The rapid pace of scientific progress is undeniably exciting, yet keeping up with the latest developments can often feel overwhelming. CAS, with its unique perspective on both historical and current scientific landscapes, offers invaluable insights into emerging trends. Recently, experts from Dow and CAS collaborated to spotlight the most promising scientific breakthroughs and trends in material science that we are eager to follow in 2025.
Key materials science trends for 2025
Janet highlighted six key scientific trends in material science from the CAS Insights article that are set to influence research and innovation over the next year:
- Meta Materials: Improving wireless communications and other applications.
- Decarbonization of Building Construction: Innovations in smart materials to reduce global emissions.
- Aerogels: Finding new uses beyond insulation.
- Smart Materials: Enhancing performance, safety, and comfort in various applications.
- Bamboo: Utilizing this renewable building material in innovative ways.
- Thermally Adaptive Fabrics: Improving performance across many uses.
To expand on these trends, Dr. Harold Boone, and Dr. Leighton Jones joined Janet for a wide-ranging panel discussion that touched on a number of related subjects.
Smart materials in construction
Harold explained that smart materials in construction are crucial for reducing buildings’ carbon footprint. He mentioned thermochromic windows that change transparency based on thermal responses, insulating materials, and self-healing concrete. Harold highlighted the elegance of science when it goes unnoticed by the common user, yet provides significant benefits such as self-healing concrete using encapsulated bacteria. These bacteria lie dormant until a crack occurs, triggering the healing process. This innovative approach ensures long-term durability and energy efficiency in construction. Leighton added how nanotubes, graphene, other nanocomposites, and certain polymers can be incorporated into concrete formulations to increase their factory resistance and various other mechanical tensile strength properties.
Solar energy
Leighton provided insights into his research on solar energy. He discussed the modeling of structure-property relationships in organic photovoltaics and the interdisciplinary collaboration required to produce efficient solar devices. Leighton shared his work with a multidisciplinary team to synthesize, fabricate, and measure the electrical and optical properties of solar devices. He explained how solar energy has become a major part of energy grids worldwide. He also emphasized the importance of strategies to improve power conversion efficiency, such as donor-acceptor properties and the use of additives to enhance semicrystalline structures.
Sustainable polymer solutions
Harold explained that phase transfer materials for thermal energy storage are being studied to improve their conductivity and energy density. These materials have great potential in data centers, which require significant power and cooling. He emphasized the need for collaboration between industries, academia, and government to achieve decarbonization goals. Harold also mentioned the Department of Energy's roadmap for decarbonizing the economy, which calls for extensive collaboration to reduce industrial emissions, decarbonize buildings, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Meta materials
Leighton emphasized the potential of meta materials to revolutionize various industries. He highlighted some fascinating applications, such as invisibility cloaks that can make objects “disappear”. He also shared their potential to scavenge pollutants and mop up oil spills, noting that NASA has already used some of these materials.
Both panelists discussed the commercial availability of meta materials and their potential applications. Harold categorized meta materials into two groups: those that are commercially available and those that are still in the nascent stage. He mentioned the use of meta materials to dampen seismic waves in earthquakes and in military applications for camouflage and optical manipulation. Leighton highlighted their role in wearable technology and biological monitoring, including materials that harvest ambient energy from everyday movements, like walking, powering devices such as pacemakers.
All-in-all, it was a great chance to hear some deep, interrelated discussion of material science topics that will be showing results in 2025.
Learn more
Read more valuable insights into the scientific breakthroughs and trends to watch in 2025 in our recent article. See the webinar recording here.
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