Over 11 million U.S. homes rely on toxic lead pipes. Bioderived polyethylene offers a safer replacement, but long-term durability must be ensured. This research studies how chlorine degrades pipe materials and how molecular branching improves resilience. Accelerated aging tests link polymer structure to performance, guiding design of longer-lasting, reliable water infrastructure.

This research transforms agricultural waste into biochar-based activated carbon for batteries and supercapacitors. By replacing costly materials, it improves energy storage performance while reducing costs, offering a sustainable and affordable solution that turns waste into valuable resources for future energy technologies.

Industrial combustion residue can strengthen concrete but varies in impurity content. This research uses X-ray imaging and computer vision to identify and quantify impurities in residue particles. The results help cement manufacturers optimize material use, improving quality, reducing costs, and supporting sustainable recycling of industrial waste.

Hydrocarbons drive modern society but fuel climate change when burned. This research converts hydrocarbons into carbon nanotubes and clean hydrogen instead. Using laser diagnostics to probe reactors, it reveals how nanotubes form, enabling higher production rates, industrial decarbonization, and advanced materials for a sustainable, low-carbon energy future.

Achieving a carbon-free future requires not only renewable energy generation but also major upgrades to electricity transmission. This research develops electrostatic generators that produce high-voltage DC power more efficiently and sustainably than current technologies. By reducing costs and reliance on rare materials, the work supports grid expansion and large-scale decarbonisation.

This research develops sustainable screen materials using nanoscale “sponges” that trap light-emitting molecules. By converting these materials into ultra-thin nanosheets, the study offers brighter, longer-lasting, and energy-efficient alternatives to toxic, non-renewable screen components, reducing environmental impact while supporting future global screen demand.

This study tested sustainable alternatives to sand for Texas rain-garden soils, using waste materials like crushed glass, oyster shell, and expanded shale mixed with clay. All alternatives performed as well as sand in draining stormwater. These findings support affordable, scalable, and environmentally friendly strategies to reduce urban flooding amid rising climate-driven flood risks.

This research improves the lifespan of sodium-metal batteries, a cheaper and greener alternative to lithium-ion cells for renewable energy storage. By replacing copper with zinc as the supporting material, sodium forms smooth, stable deposits, extending battery life 15-fold. This innovation could deliver affordable, sustainable grid-scale energy storage.