Rice has grown its research in this topic since the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Curl and Smalley for the discovery of buckminsterfullerene. Faculty mentors in this research area work on a variety of research topics of relevance to this NRT including the development of emerging 2-D nanomaterials by members of the Atomic Materials Research Institute, the application and processing of graphene and carbon nanotubes, the design of new biomaterials for tissue engineering, the application of nanomaterials for water purification by members of the NSF Nanotechnology Enabled Water Treatment Center, the creation of nanomaterials and nanocomposites for energy applications, the development of nanophotonic and plasmonics, and the study and development of quantum materials and devices.