The research activities of the Department of Materials Science cover the entire production process of relevant classes of materials, starting from basic studies up to the procedures of integration in devices and in some cases to the manufacturing of demonstrators.

The types of materials investigated are: nanostructured oxides for applications in sensors, photocatalysis and autotraction (nanostructured fillers); polymeric or hybrid porous materials for storage and separation of technologically relevant gas mixtures such as H₂, CH₄ and CO₂; molecular or polymeric organic semiconductors; organic and inorganic semiconductors (thin films) for photovoltaic, photocatalysis, smart windows, optoelectronics, sensors and imaging; epitaxial and colloidal quantum dots for imaging, energy and photonics; nanostructured materials as active layers for thermoelectric generators; polymeric nanostructures for energy, photonics and drug delivery; glass-based materials for the production of oxidic systems containing optically active species and nanostructures for sensors, imaging and lighting; composite materials for electrode applications for energy storage; inorganic semiconductors and high dielectric constant oxides for microelectronics (memories and logic), spintronics and neuroelectronics.

The Department of Materials Science splits its research activities into thematic areas.