3D Matter Made to Order

As computers become more powerful, their energy demands increase, motivating research into technologies that could enable faster, more energy-efficient information processing. In the latest episode of our “Explain Like I’m Five” video series, we feature Cluster Doctoral Researcher Erik Jung, who works under the supervision of Principal Investigator Wolfram Pernice at the Universität Heidelberg. In the video, Jung explains his research on photonic chip technologies, which process information using light instead of electrical signals. These technologies rely on extremely small, high-precision structures fabricated using advanced 3D printing and integrated directly onto semiconductor chips. The Explain Like I’m Five series invites doctoral researchers to present their research topics in an accessible format that makes complex scientific ideas understandable beyond disciplinary boundaries.

A study published in Nature Communications reports a fully printed origami thermoelectric generator (TEG) with record performance. The study involves Cluster Doctoral Researchers Zirui Wang and Muhammad Irfan Khan, Principal Investigators Yolita M. Eggeler and Uli Lemmer, and Cluster Alumnus Dr. Md Mofasser Mallick. The team developed a flexible, printable thermoelectric material and combined it with an origami-inspired device design to efficiently convert low-grade waste heat into electrical power. The fully printed device achieves a record-high power density, delivering about twice the performance of previously reported printed origami TEGs. The results highlight the potential of printed TEGs as practical, maintenance-free power sources for battery-free IoT devices, wearables, and industrial monitoring systems.

© Luo et al., Nature Communications 17, 1259 (2026), CC BY 4.0.

The second funding period of the Cluster of Excellence began on January 1, marking an important new phase for our research activities. To reflect this transition, we have introduced a new research structure that defines our current Research Areas, Sub-Areas, and Projects. The updated website now presents this structure in a clear and accessible way. It also provides an overview of the 42 principal investigators and the broad range of disciplines represented within the Cluster. Our research on scalable digital 3D additive manufacturing is organized into four Research Areas: Molecules & Inks, Technologies, Applications, and Digital Blueprints. These Research Areas form the scientific framework of the Cluster. Interdisciplinary collaboration across these areas is a key element of our work, strengthened through five Lighthouse Projects. We invite visitors to explore the website to learn more about our initiatives and future directions.

Heidelberg University introduced the new class of fellows for the 2025/2026 academic year at the Marsilius Kolleg. Among the selected researchers is Cluster Principal Investigator Prof. Dr. Christine Selhuber-Unkel, who will contribute her expertise to the program’s interdisciplinary approach. Directed by Prof. Dr. Friederike Nüssel and Cluster Principal Investigator Prof. Dr. Michael Boutros, the Marsilius Kolleg serves as Heidelberg’s Institute for Advanced Study. The institute fosters collaboration between the natural, life, and engineering sciences, as well as the humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences. During the fellowship year, the new class will explore questions such as how humans acquire and apply knowledge and how these processes can be modeled in AI language models. Another project will focus on interdisciplinary collaboration in researching traditional crops that could support sustainable food systems.

 © Tobias Schwerdt

The 3DMM2O Conference 2026 is now open for registration. The event will take place at Schöntal Monastery in Germany from March 23–26. The annual conference is dedicated to exploring the many facets of 3D additive manufacturing. It will highlight advances in the theory, computation, and design of next-generation 3D materials. Researchers and industry professionals are invited to exchange ideas and explore the emerging technologies that are shaping the future of the field. Alongside the scientific program, the conference will feature the traditional Pister Session, as well as a robust social program that fosters community and collaboration. Registration is open until the end of January, and early-bird rates are available until December 22. This year’s program is chaired by Carsten Rockstuhl and Wolfgang Wenzel from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Ulrich Schwarz from Heidelberg University.

In a recent study, a team of scientists, including Cluster Doctoral Researcher Nadine von Coelln, Postdoctoral Researchers Marjan Krstić and Christian Huck, and Principal Investigators Petra Tegeder, Carsten Rockstuhl, and Christof Wöll, developed a multiscale computational model to predict the optical response of chiral surface-anchored metal-organic frameworks (SURMOFs). Their approach integrates quantum-chemical simulations at the unit-cell level with electromagnetic scattering models for entire thin films. The team validated the model using infrared spectroscopy, IR-SNOM, and solid-state VCD, finding excellent agreement between theory and measurements. These results establish SURMOFs as powerful platforms for solid-state VCD and provide a robust tool for designing next-generation chiral MOF materials.

© Fingolo, A. C., et al. (2025), Adv. Funct. Mater., CC BY 4.0.