Mechanosynthesis Group

The Mechanosynthesis Group, led by Professor John Hart, aims to create new materials, machines, and design principles for advanced manufacturing. Much of our work seeks to discover and exploit micro- and nanoscale phenomena toward new and improved energy storage materials, electronic devices, composite structures, engineered surfaces, medical diagnostics, and consumer products.

The Group is based in the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering, and are proud to be affiliated with the Laboratory for Manufacturing and Productivity (LMP), the Microsystems Technology Laboratories (MTL), the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), the Tata Center for Technology and Design, the Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies, the Materials Processing Center (MPC), the Materials Research Laboratory (MRL), and the Center for Graphene Devices and Systems.

Research in the Mechanosynthesis Group converges expertise in materials, manufacturing, and mechanical design. Current focus areas include include additive manufacturing (spanning from nano to macro scales), carbon nanotubes and 2D materials, roll-to-roll processing, printed electronics, and resource-efficient sensors and diagnostics. These technical areas connect both to fundamental principles and applications in a variety of domains including lightweight structures, robotics, energy storage devices, optical materials, precision instrumentation, and medical devices. Please see our publications for examples from across this exciting spectrum.