Chemistry

‘Defective’ carbon simplifies hydrogen peroxide production

Rice scientists introduce a new catalyst to reduce oxygen to widely used hydrogen peroxide.

Study shows why anesthetic stops cell’s walkers in their tracks

Researchers detail the mechanism that allows propofol, a common anesthetic, to halt the movement of kinesin proteins that deliver cargoes to the far reaches of cells.

A little soap simplifies making 2D nanoflakes

The right combination of surfactant, water and processing can maximize the quality of 2D hexagonal boron nitride for such products as antibacterial films.

Rice ‘flashes’ new 2D materials.

Rice scientists extend their technique to produce graphene in a flash to tailor the properties of 2D dichalcogenides, quickly turning them into metastable metallics for electronic and optical applications.

Flashing plastic ash completes recycling

Rice ‘flashes’ new 2D materials

2D compound shows unique versatility

Rice chemist, alums named to Forbes 30 Under 30

Rice University chemist Julian West and four alumni have been named to the 10th annual Forbes 30 Under 30.

‘Soft’ nanoparticles give plasmons new potential

Bigger is not always better, but here’s something that starts small and gets better as it gets bigger.

Weak force has strong impact on nanosheets

Vitamin boosts essential synthetic chemistry

Inspired by light-sensing bacteria that thrive near hot oceanic vents, synthetic chemists use vitamin B12 to catalyze valuable hydrocarbons known as olefins, or alkenes, useful precursor molecules for the manufacture of drugs and agrochemicals.

People, papers and presentations Dec 7,2020

Richard Baraniuk, the Victor E. Cameron Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and a professor of computer science, is co-author of the introduction to “The Science of Deep Learning,” a special issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Chemists get peek at novel fluorescence

Rice chemists find a second level of fluorescence in single-walled carbon nanotubes. The phenomenon may be useful in solar energy and optoelectronic applications.

Understanding frustration could lead to better drugs

Atom-scale models of proteins that incorporate ligands, like drug molecules, show a strong correlation between minimally frustrated binding sites and drug specificity. Such models could lead to better-designed drugs with fewer side effects.

Rice researchers top two categories in ‘Create the Future’ contest

Rice University was a double winner in the annual Create the Future Design Contest, an international competition in its 19th year.