Federal funds totalling $1 million have been approved for Texas State University’s Center for Hetero-Functional Materials’ (CHM) to aid in the development of the next generation of devices to be used for military, medical and commercial applications.

The funding, included as part of the Department of Defense Appropriations Bill, will be used by CHM to provide the infrastructure and resources required for research and development of new materials and processes. 

These materials and processes will be used for the production of future devices with new capabilities, such as miniature and inexpensive chemical and bio-hazard sensors. 

“Scientific innovation does not come without vision, and vision does not come without the resources necessary to make it a reality,” Congressman Lloyd Doggett said in announcing the funding. 

Prof. Thomas H. Myers, director of the Materials Science and Engineering Program at Texas State University, said, “The Center for Hetero-Functional Materials provides the foundation for  interdisciplinary-based research in advanced functional materials to drive the innovation and discovery required for solutions to pressing issues of societal impact in energy, environment, health, security, and in the emerging nanotechnology revolution that will impact all segments of the economy and our lives. 

“Working closely with DoD laboratories, researchers associated with this project will address the DoD need for the development of a ‘common platform’ for materials synthesis for device fabrication, one attainable only through the use of heterofunctional materials,”  Myers said.

Doggett said, “As Texas and the United States evolve to meet new, 21st Century challenges, it’s imperative that we make a commitment to doing everything it takes to rise to the task.  These funds will solidify Texas State University as a leader in the development of the next generation of scientific innovation that has the potential to help our nation become more secure, energy independent, environmentally-sound, and healthy.  This is a win-win situation for the researchers at the center, for the university, for the state of Texas and for the future of this nation as a leader in scientific innovation.”   

Officials say they have hopes the program will help sustain Texas as a leading innovator of new technologies, and will help to enable the promotion of spin-off industries.