Innovation in the field of advanced materials requires researchers (with diverse backgrounds) to apply multi-modal approaches to solve problems that are increasingly at the boundaries of sub-fields. In turn, solving these problems requires researchers to combine state-of-the-art theoretical, modeling, and/or simulation techniques, which are integrated at a fundamental level with advanced experimental efforts in materials synthesis, processing, fabrication, and characterization, with awareness of the entire life-cycle of a material (from ideation to implementation) and ultimately requires additional attention to the science of scaling, manufacture, and utilization. At the same time, the field is embracing new approaches – informed and augmented by advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence - to streamline and accelerate the life-cycle of materials.
Building from this, RAMI has engaged faculty and school and campus leadership in a visioning process with a keen eye to identify where targeted efforts could have an outsized impact on the research endeavor at Rice. RAMI has identified three core areas of research interest.
- Next-generation electronic/photonic materials
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This area focuses on the materials that will enable a new paradigm in microelectronics ranging from memory/logic to communications to sensors and beyond. Simply think about what you wish your phone or computer might do in 20 years – RAMI wants to develop the materials today to make those dreams of tomorrow possible. The need for work here is also critical, for example, from an energy perspective, since computing is the fastest-growing energy consumer. If left unchecked, more than 30% of primary energy production will be used in computing in the next decade! At the same time, from a national security and economic perspective, there is a vast effort to assure U.S. leadership in the innovation and to on-shore the manufacture of these systems [see, for example, the goals of the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022, the DoD Commons initiative, new production facilities being built in the U.S. (e.g., Intel in Ohio, TSMC in Arizona, and Samsung in Texas), and, more locally, strong investment from the state of Texas (e.g., the Texas CHIPS Act worth $1.4B)]. Besides next-generation, energy-efficient electronics, ever-growing demand calls for computation, communications, sensing, etc. technologies to be introduced into every aspect of our lives, thus enabling “smart” function and automation from consumer electronics to healthcare and beyond. This calls for needs ranging from edge computing to new modalities of sensors and actuators to responsive materials that can adapt to changing stimuli.
- Energy materials
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This area focuses on the materials that will transform energy storage and conversion/harvesting. Humanity faces a colossal energy problem. For example, analysts predict a >120-times increase in global energy storage needs by 2040. While the challenge of storing energy is not a new one, researchers are exploring a range of approaches to do this as society transitions to renewable energy sources that often cannot produce energy all the time (e.g., solar and wind energy). Enabling the energy transition requires energy storage at unprecedented levels and in different forms. Research into electrochemical batteries, capacitive-energy storage, hybrid systems, and more are on the table. Likewise, while we have long converted electricity into heat for many purposes, converting heat back to electricity is considerably more challenging to do efficiently and thus researchers are exploring ways to store thermal energy (at both low cost and scale). Finally, there is a strong driver for us to do as much as possible with every unit of primary energy that is produced. As such, innovations in energy efficiency – including developing novel energy conversion and harvesting techniques that can recover wasted energy are key.
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Materials for environmental stewardship
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This area focuses on the materials that will assure responsible use of natural resources and long-term stewardship of our air, soil, and water. There has been and will continue to be a need for translational materials science to support the long-term wellness of our society. There is a growing push for research efforts aimed at addressing important challenges in sustainability and environmental issues facing society including, but not limited to: climate change; sustainability in the full materials lifecycle, from extraction to production to design for circularity, including upcycling and recycling; replacement of rare or toxic materials from supply chains, etc. At the same time, we are increasingly being called upon to remediate the mistakes of the past to assure our lived environment supports us in a safe manner. These are some of the most pressing and important problems of our age and how we address these challenges will be essential for creating a sustainable future for subsequent generations. This call to action includes a current generation of students who are passionate about these subjects and want to be a part of the solution, materials scientists and engineers who have the ideas and tools to make an impact in these areas, and industry and markets who see opportunity in this space.
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Artificial Intelligence aided Materials Discovery
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Within these areas, RAMI has also identified a cross-cutting theme focused on accelerating and automating materials discovery, design, and manufacturing, wherein we recognize the importance of integrating advanced computational, ML, and AI approaches with state-of-the-art experimental efforts to transform how we discover, design, produce, study, and manufacture advanced materials. As such, RAMI will actively seek out researchers integrating these competencies intimately with materials research efforts.