Physicists find unusual waves in nickel-based magnet
Rice physicists and collaborators have discovered “spin exciton” excitations can ripple through a nickel-based magnet as a coherent wave.
Strong ultralight material could aid energy storage, carbon capture
Rice U. materials scientists and collaborators at the University of Maryland showed that fine-tuning interlayer interactions in a class of 2D polymers can determine the materials’ loss or retention of desirable mechanical properties in multilayer or bulk form.
James Chappell wins NSF CAREER Award
Rice bioscientist James Chappell has won a National Science Foundation CAREER Award to develop RNA programming methods that can improve human health and the environment.
Rice Alliance Clean Energy Accelerator opens Class 3 applications for energy transition ventures
The Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship is accepting applications for Class 3 of its Clean Energy Accelerator, the premier energy transition accelerator in Houston, through April 14.
Rice joins neutrino megaproject. Engineering launches energy transition initiative. McHugh lands cancer research grant. Keck Foundation funds quantum research. West named Cottrell Scholar.
Texas in position to lead hydrogen energy economy, new report says
Texas’ legacy energy economy and geology are ideal for developing a robust hydrogen market, which will play an important role in sustainability, but a successful energy transition also requires a shift in policy and market structure, according to a new report from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Researchers can ‘see’ crystals perform their dance moves
Rice University researchers already knew the atoms in perovskites react favorably to light. Now they’ve seen precisely how the atoms move when the 2D materials are excited with light. Their study this week in Nature Physics details the first direct measurement of structural dynamics under light-induced excitation in 2D perovskites.
Nanoparticles make it easier to turn light into solvated electrons
Chemists from Rice, UT Austin and Stanford have uncovered the long-sought mechanism of a light-driven process that creates solvated electrons, inherently clean chemical reactants that are attractive for green chemistry.
Rice flashes new life into lithium-ion anodes
Rice chemists use flash Joule heating to recover graphite anodes from spent lithium-ion batteries.
Texas power grid debate should focus on reliability and economics, says Baker Institute expert
Building new ties between the Texas electrical grid and the major grids in North America should be explored with strict regard to economics and reliability — leaving politics aside — according to a new report from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
A crystal shape conundrum is finally solved
Rice researchers learn to predict how crystals take shape from their internal chemistry, even when the crystal lacks symmetry.
Rice lab’s catalyst could be key for hydrogen economy
A light-activated catalyst efficiently converts ammonia into clean-burning hydrogen using only inexpensive raw materials.
Rice turns asphaltene into graphene for composites
The flash Joule heating process developed at Rice turns asphaltenes, a byproduct of crude oil production, into graphene for use in composite materials.
Rice U. technology startup Syzygy Plasmonics raises $76 million in latest funding round
Syzygy Plasmonics, a Houston-based startup fueled by technology developed at Rice University, has announced $76 million in Series C financing led by Carbon Direct Capital — one of the largest rounds of funding for a venture spun out of a Rice lab.
Drought in China could devastate global supply chains, energy transition efforts, experts warn
Following a record-breaking drought over the summer, China is on the brink of a water catastrophe that could have devastating consequences for global food security, energy markets and supply chains, according to a report from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.