Materials Science and NanoEngineering

Yimo Han receives NSF CAREER Award

Rice materials scientist Yimo Han has won a prestigious NSF CAREER Award to advance the use of complex 2D materials in flexible electronics, quantum computing and other applications.

New priming method improves battery life, efficiency

Rice University engineers have developed a readily scalable method to optimize a silicon anode priming method that increases lithium-ion battery performance by 22% to 44%.

Faculty, staff, students honored for excellence in teaching, mentoring, service

Each year, Rice honors members of the university community who have served students through outstanding teaching, dedication and service. Here are recipients of some of this year's awards.

32 Rice students, alums win NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

The National Science Foundation has awarded Graduate Research Fellowships to 32 current, incoming and former Rice students, and selected another six for honorable mention.

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.

Eco-efficient cement could pave the way to a greener future

Rice U. scientists develop process to remove toxic heavy metals from coal fly ash, making for greener, stronger concrete.

Protein-based coating could keep fruits and vegetables fresh longer

Rice University materials scientist Muhammad Rahman has won a National Science Foundation grant to develop a sustainable, low-cost coating to extend the shelf life of fruits and vegetables.

Rice selects Lane Martin to lead new Advanced Materials Institute

Lane Martin has been appointed director of the new Rice Advanced Materials Institute and Welch Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering in the George R. Brown School of Engineering.

Bending 2D nanomaterial could ‘switch on’ future technologies

Rice University materials scientist Boris Yakobson and collaborators uncovered a property of ferroelectric 2D materials that could be exploited in future devices.

Rice’s Hanyu Zhu wins NSF CAREER Award

Rice materials scientist Hanyu Zhu has received a National Science Foundation CAREER Award, which includes a five-year research grant to probe quantum materials modified by terahertz quantum fluctuations.

Theory can sort order from chaos in complex quantum systems

Theory can sort ‘order’ from ‘chaos’ in complex quantum systems.

Lab Notes for Feb. 20, 2023

Rice joins neutrino megaproject. Engineering launches energy transition initiative. McHugh lands cancer research grant. Keck Foundation funds quantum research. West named Cottrell Scholar.

Potential for profits gives Rice lab’s plastic waste project promise

Rice University scientists create carbon nanotubes and other hybrid nanomaterials out of plastic waste using an energy-efficient, low-cost, low-emissions process that could also be profitable.

Engineered wood grows stronger while trapping carbon dioxide

Rice University scientists have figured out a way to engineer wood to trap carbon dioxide through a potentially scalable, energy-efficient process that also makes the material stronger for use in construction.

Molecular machines could treat fungal infections

Rice scientists show that light-activated nanoscale drills can kill pathogenic fungi.