August 5, 2025
UW Mechanical Engineering research is steering the way towards sustainability
University of Washington mechanical engineering researchers are advancing sustainability through innovative methods and technologies.
At the UW Clean Energy Institute’s Washington Clean Energy Testbeds, researchers are utilizing 3D printing technology for developing more efficient solar cells and quantum materials. Their work with semiconductor materials called perovskites, which start as an ink and dry into thin films at much lower temperatures than conventional silicon, could significantly reduce manufacturing energy requirements while improving scalability and efficiency of solar technologies.
In marine energy, Professor Brian Polagye’s team develops wave energy converters (WECs) to harness ocean power. Testing various buoy shapes and applying data science creates more accurate WEC models that could provide renewable alternatives for remote coastal communities dependent on diesel.
Meanwhile, Assistant Professor Aniruddh Vashisth’s lab applies artificial intelligence to design recyclable vitrimers – self-healing polymers that may help mitigate plastic waste. Their machine learning approach accelerates the discovery of sustainable materials with targeted properties for applications from electronics to aerospace.