Rice University

Organic polymers show sunny potential

A new version of solar cells created by laboratories at Rice and Pennsylvania State universities could open the door to research on a new class of solar energy devices.

Pedestrian power electricity-generating shoes

PediPower shoes turn motion into juice for portable electronics and, perhaps someday, for life-preserving medical devices.

Even graphene has weak spots

Graphene, the single-atom-thick form of carbon, has become famous for its extraordinary strength. But less-than-perfect sheets of the material show unexpected weakness.

New nanotech fiber: robust handling, shocking performance

Rice University's latest nanotechnology breakthrough was more than 10 years in the making, but it still came with a shock.

What energy storage will power the iWatch and future smart watches?

With the emerging trend in multifunctional portable devices such as the smartphone, these devices are cannibalising those that previously performed single functions. This has been the case of simple digital cameras and now wrist watches.

Battery runs on plant dye

Rose madder - a natural plant dye once prized throughout the Old World to make fiery red textiles - has found a second life as the basis for a new "green" battery.

Seamless graphene/nanotube hybrid created

Researchers have successfully grown forests of carbon nanotubes that rise quickly from sheets of graphene to astounding lengths of up to 120 microns.

Single-surface material for energy storage

A seamless graphene/nanotube hybrid created at Rice University may be the best electrode interface material possible for many energy storage and electronics applications.

Super efficient solar steam

Scientists have unveiled a revolutionary new technology that uses nanoparticles to convert solar energy directly into steam.

IDTechEx Energy Harvesting and WSN USA 2012 Awards, Washington DC

IDTechEx announced the winners of the 3rd Energy Harvesting and Wireless Sensor Networks USA awards last week, at the conference held in Washington, DC and attended by over 300 people.

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Researchers boost silicon-based batteries

Researchers at Rice University have refined silicon-based lithium-ion technology by literally crushing their previous work to make a high-capacity, long-lived and low-cost anode material with serious commercial potential for rechargeable lithium batteries.

Thin-film polymer metamaterial could be used as food sensor

Materials scientists at Rice University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created very thin color-changing films that may serve as part of inexpensive sensors for food spoilage or security, multiband optical elements in laser-driven systems and even as part of high-contrast displays.

Tubular films show promise for touchscreens

A Rice University team has hit upon a method to produce nearly transparent films of electrically conductive carbon nanotubes, a goal sought by researchers around the world.

NASA must reinvest in nanotechnology research

The United States may lose its leadership role in space to other countries unless it makes research and development funding and processes — especially in nanotechnology — a renewed and urgent priority, according to a new paper from Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.

Visionary transparent memory a step closer to reality

Researchers at Rice University are designing transparent, two-terminal, three-dimensional computer memories on flexible sheets that show promise for electronics and sophisticated heads-up displays.

Toughened silicon sponges may make tenacious batteries

Rice University, Lockheed Martin researchers extract multiple anodes from a single wafer for lithium-ion batteries

Researchers develop paintable battery

Researchers at Rice University have developed a lithium-ion battery that can be painted on virtually any surface.

Nano-infused paint can detect strain

Rice University's fluorescent nanotube coating can reveal stress on planes, bridges, buildings