Insider Brief
- The University of Iowa has received $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Defense to expand its materials science research and develop quantum-related technologies.
- Funding will support acquisition of advanced fabrication equipment at MATFab, enabling layered material processing, etching, and three-dimensional patterning for quantum device research.
- The expanded facilities will provide student and faculty training, host regional summer programs, and serve as a hub for collaborative research across Iowa.
According to the University of Iowa, the university has received nearly $1.5 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Defense to expand its materials science center and support research into materials for quantum technologies.
The University of Iowa reports that the award will bring together researchers from chemistry, engineering, and physics to study how different materials can be combined to develop light-based and electronic quantum systems. As outlined by the University of Iowa, potential applications include remote sensors for detecting toxins in drinking water and improved mapping technologies with higher speed and resolution.
A central focus of the project is the acquisition of new fabrication equipment capable of patterning and etching materials, along with a printing system that allows materials to be stacked or layered to optimize optical and electronic properties.
In statements cited by the University of Iowa, Ravitej Uppu, an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and a principal investigator on the award, said:
“We want to utilize the quantum mechanical properties of new materials. If we can harness these new materials, functionalize them, then we could make sensors that can achieve better image quality and better sensing performance.”
The research will be conducted at the Materials Analysis, Testing, and Fabrication (MATFab) Facility, established in 2019 by the Office of the Vice President for Research to centralize advanced micro- and nanofabrication work. According to the University of Iowa, the facility includes 1,500 square feet of clean room space and equipment for deposition and etching at the micro- and nanoscale.
Aliasger Salem, associate vice president for research, said:
“This award represents a transformative investment in Iowa’s capacity for advanced materials research and nanofabrication. It enables MATFab to expand into emerging areas such as heterogeneous material integration and quantum device fabrication — fields critical to national competitiveness in defense and energy-efficient technologies.”
The University of Iowa also reports that the new equipment will replace aging infrastructure – says Director Tori Forbes professor in the Department of Chemistry and MATFab’s director since 2022.
“It’s been challenging to keep this aging equipment functional and enable faculty and students to conduct research in this area. This award will ensure that students can receive training on state-of-the-art equipment and faculty can continue to innovate,” Forbes says.
According to the University of Iowa, one of the major purchases funded by the award is a maskless grayscale lithography system that allows three-dimensional patterning with a resolution down to 300 nanometers. The complementary equipment will support etching and material stacking to help transition conceptual designs into compact, testable devices for quantum-related research.
The University of Iowa states that access to the expanded MATFab facility will be available to students and faculty across Iowa, positioning the facility as a regional research hub. The project includes plans for student training and a summer school program for participants from regional colleges. The co-principal investigators on the award are John Prineas and Thomas Folland, both from the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Source: The University of Iowa.
