Smart Materials

The rapid transformation of modern technologies is driven by the need for materials that are not only efficient and sustainable but also capable of performing new functions. From tackling climate change through renewable energy solutions, to enabling early disease detection with advanced biosensors, to securing communication channels with quantum technologies, the global demand for smart, multifunctional materials has never been higher. These challenges require a deep integration of materials discovery, modeling, synthesis and device engineering, bridging fundamental science with practical applications.

Objectives

The goal of the Smart Materials unit is to grow, model and develop materials with peculiar properties - such as gas sensitivity, ferroelectricity, qubit capability or optical coupling - and to integrate them into devices, including gas and biosensors, energy harvesters, printed strain and temperature sensors, as well as quantum communication devices.

Scope of expertise

The unit’s expertise is structured around five research groups, each addressing a specific part of the innovation chain, from fundamental modeling and material processing to device fabrication and application-driven integration.

Ferroic Materials for Energy Harvesting group
It  aims at studying piezoelectric and electrocaloric materials that are respectively able to transform mechanical strain and heat into electricity. Its expertise is based on ferroic materials that can be ceramics or polymers. Applications include devices such as vibrating energy harvesters, pyroelectric harvesters and electrocaloric coolers.

Modeling of Functional Materials group 
It brings expertise in computational materials physics and chemistry. It focuses on problems that require an atomistic quantum-mechanical description as a starting point, progressing to higher-level methods as needed (e.g., multiscale machine-learned potential, effective continuum approaches). Research areas include advanced materials (ranging from smart glasses to multiferroics) and materials for catalysis (e.g., photocatalysis on surfaces, framework materials), with application fields spanning transducers, ultralow-power electronics, energy harvesting, and storage.

Chemical Processing of Transducer Materials group
It leads research and development of printed transducer materials through innovative processing techniques. With a strong background in ferroic materials, the group aims to create scalable and cost-effective solutions for next-generation electronic devices. Its activities also foster doctoral education and advance knowledge through collaboration with academic and industrial partners.

Nanostructured Multifunctional Materials for Sensing group
It harnesses expertise in materials science and nanotechnology to develop micro- and nanostructures with customized electrical, optical and chemical properties. Research focuses on semiconductor heterostructures, plasmonic arrays, multilayers, as well as compact and nanogranular thin films, which serve as active components in sensing devices (chemical, biochemical, optical) or as functional surfaces/interfaces. Key application areas include air quality monitoring, leak detection, breath analysis, personalized medicine, vaccine development, antibacterial and anticorrosion surfaces and optical multilayers. This work is supported by national and international research projects funded by the FNR, EU and industrial partnerships.

Quantum Materials group
It performs research on optically active spin qubits in wide bandgap semiconductors. Its mission is to develop a reliable quantum hardware platform for quantum communication, sensing and computing. To increase the efficiency of quantum systems, the group designs, fabricates and characterises quantum photonic integrated circuits. It also develops new processing techniques to meet the high materials demands for quantum technology. The group places strong emphasis on collaboration, considering it essential for achieving significant advances, in partnership with academic and industrial partners from Luxembourg, Europe, and beyond.