Materials science is central to the development of
our modern technological society. New materials are required for better
performance of existing products, processes and systems. The development
of novel materials is also paving the way for completely new
technologies and solutions. Scientists at Chalmers are for instance
actively engaged in materials for energy production and storage, medical
and pharmaceutical technology, mechanical constructions, functional
foods, vehicles and transport systems. These areas are keys to achieving
a sustainable society and meeting future challenges. Thus, the area of
Materials Science is central in Chalmers’ overall strive to contribute
to the development of a sustainable society.
Chalmers has a long tradition of outstanding research in materials
science. It covers a broad perspective and includes all the important
elements of advanced materials research: theory and modelling,
synthesis, characterisation and evaluation. The research is a core
activity at five departments (Applied Physics, Applied Mechanics,
Chemical and Biological Engineering, Microtechnology and Nanoscience,
and Materials and Manufacturing Technology), and involves researchers at
several others. In total around 70 senior researchers are active in
this field. There is also a strong collaboration with the Department of
Biomaterials at the University of Gothenburg.
Grand challenges
Together, we take on the grand challenges of society from a materials
science perspective. Particularly, we have identified the following
issues to tackle:
• More materials must be based on renewable feedstock.
• Construction materials must become lighter; lighter constructions save both energy and materials.
• New and improved ways for supply, transport, storage, and conversion of energy require innovative new materials.
• Functional
materials, i.e. materials that utilize the native properties and
functions of their own to achieve an intelligent action, will become
more important.
• Regenerative medicine will put high demands on the materials involving both mechanical aspects and functionality.
Profiles Areas and Active Fields
The Materials Science Area of Advance has three profiles:
Materials for Energy Applications
Materials for Health
Sustainable Materials
where multi-disciplinary research is carried out spanning from
natural science to engineering, and from materials theory to processing.
Within each of these profiles, researchers are working in a number of
active fields.
A senior scientist is responsible for each profile and a
junior scientist is appointed as coordinator for the day-to-day
activities.
Research within these profiles is supported by high quality infrastructures and resources, including Theory and Modelling and Experimental Methods, which focus on the development of new methodology and research infrastructure forming a base for the thematic research.
Staying at the forefront of materials theory, modelling, and
experimental tools lays the ground for breakthroughs in materials
science.