Multi-Functional Materials Laboratory

The Multi-Functional Materials Laboratory (MFML) is a part of the Center for Molecular Science at West Point. The group consists of four faculty members and over 20 undergraduate researchers. The lab’s focus is to develop electro/photo-mechanical materials that serve as both structural, energy storage, and sensor materials. These materials are envisioned to provide lightweight systems solutions by simultaneously building and powering devices across multiple length scales.  

To achieve this aim, synthesizing 3-dimensional nanowire and nanowire-nanotube composite arrays provides tunable systems that enable the controlled variation of nanowire diameter, element length, and pore size. In this manner, material properties such as electrical conductivity, electrolyte mass transport, mechanical strength, and redox chemistries are optimized for lightweight catalysis, energy storage, and sensing applications.