3D Matter Made to Order

The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Heidelberg University successfully defended their status as Universities of Excellence in Germany’s Excellence Strategy. The decision, announced on March 11, 2026, confirms that both institutions will receive funding for another seven years, beginning in 2027. The Excellence Strategy aims to strengthen Germany’s position as a leading international research hub and support outstanding universities in developing their research profiles. A key prerequisite for maintaining the Excellence title was the success of several Excellence Clusters, including 3D Matter Made to Order. An international panel of experts evaluated the universities’ achievements over the past years and their strategic plans for the future. The renewed Excellence status underlines the strong research performance and international competitiveness of both universities.

In this study, including Cluster Postdoctoral Researcher Aleksandra Vranic, Doctoral Researcher Jonathan L. G. Schneider, Principal Investigators Martin Wegener and Stefan Bräse, and Cluster Alumnus Pascal Rietz, a systematic investigation of new photoinitiators for two-step absorption–based 3D laser nanoprinting is presented. The authors synthesized 23 benzil-based (1,2-diketone) molecules and evaluated their solubility, printability, and required laser power; fourteen enabled stable 3D microstructures using a single 405 nm continuous-wave laser. Two-step absorption relies on real excited states instead of simultaneous two-photon excitation, enabling polymerization at lower laser power with simpler setups. Systematic molecular variation revealed clear structure–performance correlations, supporting more energy-efficient and accessible micro- and nanofabrication strategies.

© Vranic et al., ChemPhotoChem (2026), CC BY 4.0.

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