Chemical & Biological Engineering Research
Materials, Polymers and Transport Processes
By harnessing material properties, chemical engineers have developed an array of essential and beneficial materials like silicon chips, unique glass material, and even Kevlar. However, some materials, such as plastics and petroleum, are creating unforeseen problems, accumulating in our oceans and negatively impacting our environment. Chemical engineers have a critical role to play in engineering new and sustainable soft and hard materials to improve energy storage, replace petroleum-derived polymers, and more. To drive innovation and accelerate research, we integrate computational modeling, applied mathematics, and machine learning into our experimental methods and work with numerous collaborators across campus, schools and industries.
What is our role in material engineering?
Materials engineering incorporates physics, chemistry and engineering to understand, develop and test materials. Understanding material behavior and principles, we can modify their structure, process and design to improve a materials’ performance and functionality. By inventing new materials and transforming existing materials, we can have a profound impact on society:
- Solve problems in recycling and plastics separation
- Replacer petroleum-derived materials
- Lower the cost of renewable energy generation and storage
- Discover innovative high-performance composites
- Harness biomaterials for sustainable energy, drug therapies, and more.Â
Types of materials
In chemical engineering, material engineering encompasses a variety of material types–from soft vs. hard materials; “common” materials like glass, ceramics and metals; semiconductors; composite materials composed of two or more macroscopic phases; and many more. Let’s dive into some of these materials and the cutting-edge of research within these categories.
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In chemical engineering, we focus on materials that exist in a state between a liquid and a solid, like polymers, gels, foam, and liquid crystals. These soft materials have structures that are easily altered using thermal or mechanical stress, which affects material characteristics like viscosity, elasticity and adhesion. Engineer new and unique soft materials with select characteristics to create sustainable energy-efficient batteries, or smart coatings to deliver therapeutic agents and filter out pollution.
An extremely small chemical substance or material, nanomaterials measure between 1 and 100 nanometers. A single nanometer is one millionth of a millimeter, approximately 100,000 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. Nanomaterials exhibit unique optical, electronic, thermo-physical and mechanical properties, such as superconductivity, chemical reactivity and performance. With research into new nanomaterials and nanostructure properties, we can design efficient solar panels and batteries, and create stronger, lighter materials, like graphene.
Design, develop and apply semi-permiable barriers to separate, purify, or concentrate substances in liquid or gas form. Study and adjust membrane selectivity in order to treat contaminated water, separate harmful gases, control pollutants, and remove harmful components from the blood.
From salt, snowflakes, gemstones and other minerals, crystals have unique atomic and molecular structures, and unique characteristics, such as conductivity, optical properties, and physical properties, like clay’s dual durability and flexibility. By analyzing their structure, characteristics, and the relationship between the two, we can restructure and engineer crystals applications in DNA repair, cell signaling, and cancer biology.
Colloids are mixtures of two or more substances that remain separate, but are dispersed evenly and appear uniform to the naked eye. Types of colloids include sols (paint, ink, cell fluids), emulsions (milk, mayonnaise), foam (whipped cream, styrofoam), gels (jelly, cell plasma), and aerosols (fog, smoke). A major challenge in this field is microplastics, which act as colloids because their natural small size allows them to remain suspended and dispersed in their environment.
Median Wage
With a Bachelor’s degree according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics in May 2024
US Dollars108,310
materials engineering
US Dollars111,910
electrical and electronic engineering
US Dollars121,860
chemical engineer
A closer look. What are some focus areas in materials engineering?
Materials engineering is projected to grow 6% through 2034 according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Our researchers and alumni work at the forefront of material innovation, making advancements across disciplines and topics within material engineering. Learn about a few of them below!
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Polymer engineering focuses on the design, analysis, and process of polymers, like plastics, rubbers, and polyelectrolytes–which hold a positive or negative charge. It involves not only research and technology to create and modify polymers, but also how to shape and recycle polymers. In creating unique and modified polymers, we can create dissolvable and harmless plastics, biodegradable medical supplies, water-soluble polyelectrolytes for water treatment, and high-performance aerospace materials.
Frequently referred to as transport phenomena, transport process engineering is the study of the movement of momentum, energy, and mass within complex physical systems. With transport phenomena, we can optimize materials engineering and industrial processes, such as reactor design and separation techniques. These improvements help us in many industries, including:
- The release and distribution of pollutants to mitigate pollution.Â
- Recycling streams in chemical reactors to minimize waste.
- Enable new microfluidic technologies for human health.Â
- Material and chemical production.
Leverage computational modeling, simulations, applied mathematics, and machine learning to design and manipulate molecular structure. By predicting behavior, relationships, and performing high-throughput testing of structures, we can collaborate with experimental labs to accelerate their research and target pathways that have proven viability.Â
Interfacial engineering consists of the physical and chemical behaviors of particles at the boundary, or interface, between any two phases (gas, liquid, solid). Whether the phases are different or the same, behaviors include phenomena, such as surface tension and adsorption. By studying and harnessing these complex material systems, we can filter out pollutants and control the release of ingredients, such as retinol in cosmetics. Unique research also looks at behaviors involving electrochemical fields, which could allow us to drive chemical transformations using electrical energy instead of heat energy from fossil resources.
What will you do in materials research?
The challenges we face today require materials with multiple functionalities and advanced properties. With interdisciplinary approaches, we can create a safer environment, cleaner energy, and improve our quality of life. We also continuously evaluate techniques, investigate new practices, and explore how artificial intelligence and machine learning can help us dive deeper and accelerate development, such as self-driving microscopes. Learn more about some of our research methods below!
Characterization
Analyze and identify chemical, physical, electrical and structural properties of materials–or characteristics. Use equipment, like microscopes and spectrometers, to examine material structure, interactions and behavior, and monitor quality. With accurate and advanced characterization, we can develop new materials with explicit and unique properties, and improve existing materials.Â
Self-assembly
Without external direction, components, molecules or particles can spontaneously arrange themselves into an organized structure or pattern. Study how and why this process occurs to create functional materials, such as nanotechnology. Advances in self-assembly could make way to develop self-healing materials, bacteria-resistant materials for use in hospitals and medical devices, and complex, low-cost microelectronics.
Material Synthesis
Study the physical and chemical processes used to combine chemical elements or compounds to fabricate different materials. Leverage synthesis research to invent sustainable processing techniques, and improve the quality and performance of current processes. Harnessing material synthesis, we can create rare and limited chemicals, produce new materials for sustainable and low-cost batteries, improve petroleum refining and more.Â
Fluid Mechanics
Apply conservation of mass, momentum and energy principles to understand the behavior and properties of fluids, including liquids, gasses, and plasmas, while in motion or resting. With theoretical analysis, experimental techniques, and computational tools, predict flow behavior and solve complex challenges such as, oil spills, wind energy capture, and treatments for blood diseases, like Sickle Cell Disease.
Combine colloids & interfacial engineering
Colloids and interfaces both play a critical role in complex, dynamic and evolving material systems. Harnessing both together, we can filter out pollutants, enable efficient and scalable energy storage solutions, and control the release of ingredients, such as retinol in cosmetic products.
A major challenge in this field is microplastics. Classified as colloids due to their small size, microplastics pollute and harm our ecosystems worldwide. By engineering better mitigation strategies, we can filter and remove microplastics from our water, soil and air.
Faculty
Our faculty have a wide research and educational background, with experience in many related fields and industries.
colloids, soft matter, nanomaterials
Rose Cersonsky
Conway Assistant Professor
interfaces, soft materials, nanoscience, ionic liquids
Matt Gebbie
Conway Assistant Professor
Fluid mechanics
Mike Graham
Steenbock Professor, Harvey D. Spangler Professor & Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor
Colliods, fluids
Dan Klingenberg
Polymers, soft materials, nanomaterials
Whitney Loo
Conway Assistant Professor
drug delivery, biotechnology
David Lynn
Duane H. and Dorothy M. Bluemke Professor & Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor
electrified interfaces, surface chemistry
Marcel Schreier
Richard H. Soit Assistant Professor
Polymers, membranes, transport phenomena, ion separations
Rahul Sujanani
nanomaterials, soft materials, cell membranes
Reid Van Lehn
Sobota Associate Professor
Affiliate faculty: Boydston, Gopalan, Spagnolie, Liu
Research Centers & Institutes
Our faculty are leading and participating in a wide variety of interdisciplinary centers and institutes: