Advanced research into lighter, more durable materials with better energy conversion and mechanical properties means big things for drones, electric vehicles, and the military.

Two teams, one at the University of Houston and the second at the University of Michigan, have unveiled two new advanced material models for energy conversion and storage. Haleh Ardebili from the University of Houston led a team to develop a new electrode based on reduced graphene oxide and aramid nanofiber (rGO-ANF), which is lighter and more durable.

Meanwhile, the University of Michigan announced new research co-led by Edgar Meyhofer, professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Vladimir Shalaev, a professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering from Purdue, into the measurement of highly-energetic electrons called “hot charge carriers” induced in gold and silver nanostructures.