Rice University Materials Science and Nanoengineering

Rice undergraduate Rishi Madhuvairy is paving the way for improved diagnosis of semiconductor defects, a problem that costs the industry millions of dollars every year.

Rishi, along with his collaborator Purdue University sophomore Rahul Prabhu, earned first place in the poster competition at Purdue’s AI Research Showcase this spring after developing an AI-driven model designed to detect defects in semiconductor wafers. Their high-accuracy, low-latency model could be implemented onsite within a lab and includes spatial descriptors that identify where and how defects appear on the wafer.

Interdisciplinary projects like this underscore the opportunities for real-world impact in materials science.

“Materials science sits at the intersection of nearly every engineering and scientific field,” said Rishi. “Whether you’re working in electrical engineering or AI, you need to have an understanding of materials science to manipulate properties of devices at the nanoscale.”
https://engineering.rice.edu/news/student-led-breakthrough-advances-semiconductor-chip-quality-control

A new chip-making technique pioneered by Rice materials scientists Hae Yeon Lee and Yifeng Liu could advance next-generation photonic and optoelectronic devices.

The Rice team’s work, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates a new way to deploy wrinkle-based patterning on rigid insulating materials.

A key feature is that the pattern can be created in one simple step at room temperature, while conventional methods often require many fabrication steps, high cost and chemical processing that can leave residue on the surface of the chip. https://news.rice.edu/news/2026/stressed-crystal-creates-nanoscale-patterns-chip-materials-room-temperature

📷 by Jorge Vidal

Rice researchers have discovered new potential for carbon nanotubes, confirming a long-standing prediction that may advance electronic and photonic technologies.

A team including Junichiro Kono and Hanyu Zhu created large, highly ordered films of chiral carbon nanotubes. Findings, published in ACS Nano, show that the crystalline films can convert the color of light at a rate two to three orders of magnitude greater than conventional materials.

Ultimately, this research could help power faster optical communications, flexible photonic chips and light-based computing systems.

Researchers measure giant light-conversion effect in chiral carbon nanotubes Rice scientists successfully assembled carbon nanotubes with the same chiral orientation into large high-quality crystals that can manipulate light with an efficiency two to three orders of magnitude greater than conventional materials.

This weekend, we continue to celebrate our outstanding graduates who are already shaping the future of materials science.

At the Rice MSNE graduation reception yesterday, MSNE faculty, staff and families gathered to honor our graduating class, reflecting on all these graduates achieved at Rice.

To our Rice MSNE Class of 2026: we can't wait to see what you accomplish next. The future is brighter because of what you will contribute.

📷 by Jorge Vidal

Congratulations to the 2026 Rice Materials Science & Nanoengineering graduating class!

We celebrated this outstanding class with an Order of the Engineer ring ceremony this morning, where graduates pledges to uphold ethics and integrity in their profession, followed by a graduation reception.

We can't wait to see the impact this outstanding group of alumni make on the world as they take flight and launch their careers. 🦉 🎓

Electronics today have an energy problem: it takes too much energy to perform everyday computing activities, such as AI calculations.

A new material developed in the lab of Lane Martin could be the solution to the growing demand for energy in electronics. The Rice-made version of bismuth ferrite, a well-known multiferroic, exhibits orders of magnitude higher performance at room temperature and could pave the way for low-energy computing.

Learn more about how Martin, postdoctoral researcher Tae Yeon Kim, and their team addresses critical energy challenges through innovative materials: https://news.rice.edu/news/2026/room-temperature-multiferroic-could-pave-way-low-energy-computing

Congratulations to Hanyu Zhu and Yimo Han on receiving the Rice Engineering and Computing Award for Excellence in Teaching + Research!

Awarded annually at Rice’s George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing’s award ceremony, this award is given to a tenured and tenure-track faculty member who demonstrate excellence in both teaching and research.

Dr. Zhu is recognized for his global leadership in chiral phonons and polaritonic photonics and for his transformative impact on undergraduate curriculum and advising at Rice. His commitment to education has been key in developing the department's undergraduate experience and growth.

Dr. Han is recognized for her leadership in advanced electron microscopy and nanoscale materials characterization. Her courses rank among the highest-enrollment offerings in the department, drawing students from across campus and from neighboring institutions.

We are immensely proud to have Hanyu Zhu and Yimo Han as Rice MSNE faculty members. https://engineering.rice.edu/news/rice-engineering-and-computing-celebrates-excellence-research-teaching-and-service

Academia or industry?

At the Industry Academia Panel recently hosted by Rice MSNE Undergraduate Society, panelists shared insights from their own careers to help students explore career paths. Faculty highlighted how academia provides freedom for exploration within materials science research, while industry professionals shared how working in industry keeps them grouned in real-world applications.

Panelists included Rice faculty Hae Yeon Lee, Harris Pirie and Christina Tringides as well as industry professionals Mohit Agarwal of Dow, Will Zhou of Rizon, and Craig Zimmerman of Bluewater Thermal Solutions.

Above all, panelists encouraged students to stay curious and follow their passion wherever their career journey takes them. Thank you to panelists and the MSNE Undergraduate Society for making this event possible!

Join us this Thursday, April 16 for a MSNE Seminar featuring Northwestern University professor Samuel I. Stupp, one of the world’s leading pioneers in supramolecular materials and regenerative nanomedicine.

In this seminar, he will discuss his groundbreaking work on self-assembling supramolecular systems that is shaping the future of materials for regenerative medicine, energy, and soft robotics.

💡 “Supramolecular Materials for Life-Like Functions”
🗓️ Thursday, April 16
⏱️ 3pm
📍 O’Connor Building, 130 or by Zoom
https://events.rice.edu/event/425281-supramolecular-materials-for-life-like-functions

Flash Joule heating can pave the way to sustainability, from recovery of metals from electronic waste to soil remediation.

We are thrilled to have Rice University’s James Tour with us for tomorrow’s MSNE Seminar to discuss the revolutionary impact of flash Joule heating. Join us at 3pm in person or on Zoom!

💡 “Flash Joule Heating for Synthesis, Remediation and Valorization”
🗓️ April 2
⏱️ 3 pm
📍 O’Connor, 130
https://events.rice.edu/event/424622-flash-joule-heating-for-synthesis-remediation-and