Research Breakthroughs

Inexpensive Organic Material Gives Safe Batteries a Longer Life June 19, 2017Modern batteries power everything from cars to cell phones, but they are far from perfect – they catch fire, they perform poorly in cold weather and...	Modern batteries power everything from cars to cell phones, but they are far from perfect – they catch fire, they perform poorly in cold weather and they have relatively short lifecycles, among other issues. Now researchers from the University of Houston have described a new class of material that addresses many of those concerns in Nature Materials.
Yan Yao Amps Up His Game: Becomes a Scialog Fellow April 26, 2017If there’s one thing Yan Yao gets a charge out of, it’s the idea of creating a better battery. The Cullen College assistant professor of electrical...	If there’s one thing Yan Yao gets a charge out of, it’s the idea of creating a better battery. The Cullen College assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering is known for being the most current in the battery industry. A Google search yields more than 16,000 citations of papers by Yao.
For Stanko Brankovic, Life is Speeding Up January 31, 2017That exciting feeling you get when you've made a breakthrough discovery and you know that something that seemed impossible yesterday is now...	That exciting feeling you get when you've made a breakthrough discovery and you know that something that seemed impossible yesterday is now completely clear – that's the feeling that Stanko Brankovic, professor of electrical and computer engineering, has about his recent discovery of the speed in which catalysts are formed. “I’m in the same position as Sir Isaac Newton was when the apple hit him in the head! It’s that same excitement, a ‘Wow!' moment,” said Brankovic.
Rotating and Aligning Graphene Flakes – A UH Engineer's Discovery Opens Doors to Progress December 1, 2016In 2010 graphene took center stage when the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to two scientists in the UK "for groundbreaking experiments regarding...	In 2010 graphene took center stage when the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to two scientists in the UK "for groundbreaking experiments regarding the two-dimensional material graphene." At the UH Cullen College of Engineering, that same passion over pencil lead is shared by Jiming Bao, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering, but he’s taken it to a whole new dimension,
UH Engineers Invent Glucose-Sensing Contact Lens September 27, 2016Blood testing is the standard option for checking glucose levels, but a new technology could allow non-invasive testing via a contact lens that...	Blood testing is the standard option for checking glucose levels, but a new technology could allow non-invasive testing via a contact lens that samples glucose levels in tears.
New Superconducting Coil Improves MRI Performance July 25, 2016A multidisciplinary research team led by University of Houston scientist Jarek Wosik has developed a high-temperature superconducting coil that...	A multidisciplinary research team led by University of Houston scientist Jarek Wosik has developed a high-temperature superconducting coil that allows magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners to produce higher resolution images or acquire images in a shorter time than when using conventional coils.
UH Researchers Discover Key Mechanism for Producing Solar Cells July 19, 2016Researchers from the University of Houston have reported the first explanation for how a class of materials changes during production to more...	Researchers from the University of Houston have reported the first explanation for how a class of materials changes during production to more efficiently absorb light, a critical step toward the large-scale manufacture of better and less-expensive solar panels.
UH Researcher Pursues New Applications for “Hot” Electrons July 1, 2016Three years after his discovery of porous gold nanoparticles – gold nanoparticles that offer a larger surface area because of their porous nature – a...	Three years after his discovery of porous gold nanoparticles – gold nanoparticles that offer a larger surface area because of their porous nature – a UH Cullen College of Engineering researcher is continuing to explore the science and potential applications.
UH Researchers Discover New Chemical Sensing Technique June 22, 2016UH engineers have reported a new technique to determine the chemical composition of materials using near-infrared light.	UH engineers have reported a new technique to determine the chemical composition of materials using near-infrared light.
Engineering Researchers Develop Advanced Cell Screening Technology for Cancer Immunotherapy August 11, 2015Researchers have created a new method for screening cells used in immunotherapy cancer treatments, allowing high-performing immune system cells to be...	Researchers have created a new method for screening cells used in immunotherapy cancer treatments, allowing high-performing immune system cells to be studied in isolation and potentially expanding the number of patients for whom the breakthrough treatment proves successful.
UH Engineers Discover Superior Metallic Monolayer Catalyst August 10, 2015Researchers at the UH Cullen College of Engineering have synthesized and characterized a novel metallic monolayer catalyst with far superior...	Researchers at the UH Cullen College of Engineering have synthesized and characterized a novel metallic monolayer catalyst with far superior catalytic properties than those currently used in industry.
UH Engineers Develop Optical Probes for Better Diagnosis and Treatment of Kidney Disease May 26, 2015Two UH engineering professors have developed novel optical probes with potential applications in improving diagnosis and treatment for patients with...	Two UH engineering professors have developed novel optical probes with potential applications in improving diagnosis and treatment for patients with kidney disease.
Paper on Medical MRI-powered Millirobots Attracts Conference Attention May 22, 2015Hydrocephalus is a nightmarish medical condition. Accumulating fluid in the skull ratchets up pressure on the brain and can cause lifelong mental...	Hydrocephalus is a nightmarish medical condition. Accumulating fluid in the skull ratchets up pressure on the brain and can cause lifelong mental disabilities. Current treatment requires physicians to cut through the skull and implant pressure-relieving shunts.
UH Researchers Create Lens to Turn Smartphone into Microscope May 4, 2015Researchers at the University of Houston have created an optical lens that can be placed on an inexpensive smartphone to amplify images by a...	Researchers at the University of Houston have created an optical lens that can be placed on an inexpensive smartphone to amplify images by a magnitude of 120, all for just 3 cents a lens.
Engineering Alumnus Pioneers Large-area Graphene Film April 21, 2015Peng Peng, an electrical and computer engineering alumnus of the Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston, is pioneering mass...	Peng Peng, an electrical and computer engineering alumnus of the Cullen College of Engineering at the University of Houston, is pioneering mass production of large-area graphene film based on groundbreaking research that started at his alma mater.
UH Researchers Discover N-Type Polymer for Fast Organic Battery April 7, 2015Researchers at the University of Houston have reported developing an efficient conductive electron-transporting polymer, a long-missing puzzle piece...	Researchers at the University of Houston have reported developing an efficient conductive electron-transporting polymer, a long-missing puzzle piece that will allow ultrafast battery applications.
Researchers Build Brain-Machine Interface to Control Prosthetic Hand March 31, 2015A research team from the University of Houston has created an algorithm that allowed a man to grasp a bottle and other objects with a prosthetic hand...	A research team from the University of Houston has created an algorithm that allowed a man to grasp a bottle and other objects with a prosthetic hand, powered only by his thoughts.
Magnesium-ion Batteries in the Fast Lane March 26, 2015Yan Yao, assistant professor in the Cullen College’s electrical and computer engineering department, is developing alternatives to popular lithium-...	Yan Yao, assistant professor in the Cullen College’s electrical and computer engineering department, is developing alternatives to popular lithium-ion batteries, which are used to power much of the modern world.
Novel Neural Probe Helps to Unlock Mysteries of the Brain February 24, 2015In April of 2013, President Obama announced the launch of the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative, an...	In April of 2013, President Obama announced the launch of the BRAIN (Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies) Initiative, an ambitious “grand challenge” aimed at vastly increasing our understanding of the human brain.
Baby See, Baby Do? UH Research Targets Youngest Subjects October 13, 2014In research aimed at determining how babies and toddlers begin to understand the actions of others, a University of Houston research team is studying...	In research aimed at determining how babies and toddlers begin to understand the actions of others, a University of Houston research team is studying brain activity triggered by playtime interactions. The study involves children from six months to 24 months old

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