3D Matter Made to Order
Cluster of Excellence of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) & Heidelberg University
3D Additive Manufacturing Driven Towards the Molecular Scale
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More InformationThe Cluster of Excellence is a collaboration of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and Heidelberg University (Uni HD). It pursues an interdisciplinary approach through conjunction of natural, engineering, and life sciences. 3DMM2O establishes scalable digital 3D Additive Manufacturing transcending from the molecular to the macroscopic scale.
This approach converts digital information into functional materials, devices and systems “made to order.” 3DMM2O creates a powerful technology push and pull by treating molecular materials, technologies and applications as indissolubly intertwined.
On the technology side, the scientific challenges are “finer, faster, and more”, i.e., advance molecular materials and technologies in terms of resolution, speed, and multi-material printing by orders of magnitude.
On the application side, we aim at functional 3D hybrid optical and electronic systems, 3D artificial materials called metamaterials, and at reconstructing functioning organotypic systems by using 3D scaffolds for cell culture.
Prof. Dr. Martin Wegener
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
martin.wegener@kit.edu
Prof. Dr. Christine Selhuber-Unkel
Heidelberg University
selhuber@uni-heidelberg.de
News
Breakthrough in MOF Electronics: First Metallic Thin Film via AI-Driven Synthesis
A research team including Cluster Postdoctoral Researcher Chatrawee Scheiger and Mariana Kozlowska, and Cluster PIs Christof Wöll and Wolfgang Wenzel has demonstrated the first MOF thin film with true metallic conductivity. Using AI-guided robotic synthesis, the team fabricated highly ordered Cu₃(HHTP)₂ thin films with conductivities exceeding 200 S/m at room temperature. This metallic behavior is linked to Dirac cones in the material’s hexagonal structure, which enables highly mobile charge carriers. This breakthrough opens new possibilities for MOFs in electronics, sensing, energy storage, and quantum materials.
© Scheiger et al., Materials Horizons, 2025, CC BY 3.0
Deep Eutectic Inks Enable High-Resolution 3D Microprinting
In this new publication, Cluster Doctoral Researchers Philipp Mainik and Jonathan L. G. Schneider, Principal Investigators Martin Wegener and Eva Blasco, along with Christoph A. Spiegel, present a new class of deep eutectic inks (DEIs) for multiphoton 3D laser microprinting. These inks enable the production of highly elastic and responsive microstructures with high spatial resolution and mechanical tunability. The innovative formulation combines excellent printability with minimal crosslinking, overcoming the limitations of traditional soft material inks. This advancement opens new possibilities for applications in soft robotics, bioengineering, photonics, and flexible microdevices.
© Mainik et al. 2025, Adv. Mater., CC BY 4.0
Shaping the Future of Research: Stefanie Dehnen elected to the Senate of DFG
We congratulate our Cluster Principal Investigator, Prof. Dr. Stefanie Dehnen, on her election to the Senate of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG). She will take office in January 2026 as one of six newly elected members. The DFG Senate is the central scientific body responsible for major decisions regarding research funding, as well as the structure of evaluation, review, and decision-making procedures. This appointment recognizes her exceptional contributions to molecular chemistry and science policy. To learn more about her work and scientific journey, watch our latest Women in Science video feature released earlier this year.
ERC Advanced Grants for Groundbreaking Research
Two Principal Investigators from our Cluster have secured ERC Advanced Grants, which are prestigious research funds awarded by the European Research Council. With his project PICNIC, Wolfram Pernice explores how probabilistic photonic circuits can enable ultrafast and energy-efficient optical computing. Jana Zaumseil’s project, SCALE-NT, focuses on the sustainable processing of semiconducting carbon nanotubes with biodegradable materials for applications such as optical sensors and thermoelectric generators. The ERC Advanced Grant supports accomplished researchers as they develop ambitious, high-impact projects at the forefront of their fields.
© Tobias Schwerdt
3DMM2O Secures Second Funding Period
We are proud to announce that our Cluster of Excellence 3D Matter Made to Order (3DMM2O) has secured funding for a second period through the German Excellence Strategy. Following the submission of our renewal proposal in August 2024 and a successful on-site evaluation in January 2025, this achievement represents a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to advancing 3D Additive Manufacturing at the intersection of technical and life sciences. 3DMM2O will now begin on a new chapter filled with innovative research projects and interdisciplinary collaboration. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who made this success possible.
Peer Fischer elected AIMBE Fellow for outstanding contributions to biomedical engineering
Congratulations to our Cluster Principal Investigator, Prof. Dr. Peer Fischer, on being elected a Fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)! This prestigious honor recognizes the top two percent of engineers for their exceptional contributions to the field of biomedical engineering. Professor Fischer is recognized for his pioneering work in nanorobotics and ultrasound technologies, as well as for his efforts to bridge the gap between fundamental research and practical applications. Prof. Fischer leads a research group at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research and holds a professorship at Heidelberg University.
© AIMBE