Materials & Nanoscience

Research in materials chemistry disregards the barriers between chemistry's traditional sub-disciplines and combines organic, inorganic, polymer, physical, biological, and analytical chemistry. Materials researchers in chemistry benefit tremendously from interactions with those in other departments and research centers at the Institute.

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This illustration shows the nano-mechanical devices the researchers developed. Inspired by neurons, they can perform computing tasks with high energy efficiency.

Nanoscale mechanics could enable brain-inspired computing

A new device uses reconfigurable motion to mimic the firing behavior of a neuron, which could lead to more efficient computing.

MIT researchers have developed a new way to extract pure hydrogen gas from ammonia and other hydrogen carrier molecules. Their strategy, which uses electricity to speed up the extraction, reduces the temperature and energy required to recover hydrogen from these molecules.

An electrochemical approach turns ammonia into pure hydrogen

An MIT team has demonstrated a more efficient way to extract pure hydrogen gas from hydrogen carrier molecules.

Department of Chemistry seeks Assistant Professor Candidates

To receive full consideration, completed applications must be received by October 1, 2026.

Outstanding Teachers to be honored with Department of Chemistry awards for Teaching, Graduate Grading, Research, and Leadership

These awards are given annually in recognition of outstanding contributions to teaching by Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Researchers.

At left: A conceptual illustration of a nanostructured scintillator converting X-ray radiation into visible light with high spatial resolution and spectral information. At right: A micrograph of an electrochemical reactor that produced liquid copper through electrometallurgy using a molten sulfide electrolyte. The inset illustrates the chemical complexity of the electrolyte.

MIT selected to lead new NSF materials research center

The Materials Research Science and Engineering Center unites experts to advance medical imaging, sustainable metal production, and electronics.

A false-color electron microscope image shows the devices. Using the new scalable fabrication technique, researchers fabricated more than 1,000 devices using sub-nanometer molecular layers.

Turning molecules into reliable electronic devices

A new fabrication platform integrates molecules into electronic devices, opening the door to emerging computing technologies.

Five panels in a horizontal row depicting the science indicated in the caption below.

MIT and Broad Institute Researchers Break Diffraction Barrier in Super-Resolution Microscopy

A surprising discovery in optical materials allows scientists to visualize the molecular machinery of life with exceptional detail and simplified equipment.

MIT researchers studied the microscopic changes that occur inside LEDs that utilize electrically-excited quantum dots, which are nanoscale particles that emit extremely pure colored light. Their insights could be used to make advanced, more energy-efficient QD-LED displays commercially viable for applications like flat-screen TVs and medical imaging devices.

Discovery could lead to brighter, more energy-efficient digital displays

Researchers found a simple solution for extending the lifespans of LEDs made from glowing microscopic particles called quantum dots.