Parallel Scientific Sessions – Monday, May 12 | 1:00–4:30 PM

Note: The following three sessions run concurrently across different rooms.

Session 1 | RM 107 | 1:00 – 2:40 PM

Synthesis & Reactor Design

Chair: Robert J. Headrick Methane Pyrolysis Program Manager, Lead Researcher — Shell

  • 1:00 PM – Eric McFarland Professor, Chemical Engineering — University of California-Santa Barbara
  • 1:20 PM – Michael Bronikowski Associate Professor, Chemistry — University of Tampa
  • 1:40 PM – Arthur W. N. Sloan NRC Postdoctoral Fellow — Air Force Research Lab
  • 2:00 PM – Matteo Pasquali AJ Hartsook Professor in Chemical Engineering; Director, Carbon Hub — Rice University
  • 2:20 PM – Matteo Cargnello Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering — Stanford University

Session 2 | RM 108 | 1:00 – 2:40 PM

Applications: Soil Amendment, Environmental Impact, and Properties

Chair: Sylvia Dee Assistant Professor, Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences — Rice University

  • 1:00 PM – Carrie Masiello W. Maurice Ewing Professor of Biogeochemistry; Director, Sustainability Institute — Rice University
  • 1:20 PM – Pedro J. J. Alvarez George R. Brown Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering — Rice University
  • 1:40 PM – Daniel Cohan Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering — Rice University
  • 2:00 PM – Mijin Kim Assistant Professor, Chemistry & Biochemistry — Georgia Institute of Technology
  • 2:20 PM – Pulickel M. Ajayan Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Materials Science — Rice University


Session 3 | ANDERSON–CLARKE AUDITORIUM | 1:00 – 2:40 PM

Catalyzing a Carbon Revolution: Commercializing the Carbon Nanotube Value Chain

Abstract
As dispersed nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have reached an inflection point because of their use in batteries and conductive plastics. Macroscopic CNT materials – fibers, yarns, wires, fabrics, tapes, etc. – are rapidly growing and attracting interest across critical industries, from energy infrastructure to aerospace and next-generation electronics. As demand for high-performance, low-footprint materials accelerates, macroscopic CNT materials offer a rare combination of strength, conductivity, light weight, and sustainability. Moreover, macroscale CNT materials can be easily integrated into applications and products. Yet, material production capacity must grow and costs and prices must reduce accordingly to accelerate penetration.

This session will bring together companies that manufacture macroscale CNT materials and their nanoscale precursors, as well as the investors providing capital to scale production and the producers of end-use products driving commercial adoption. We will examine progress in cost reduction via manufacturing intensification and capacity scale-up. What technical and financial barriers still stand in the way of scale and mass adoption? What capital models are best suited to unlock exponential growth by funding capacity growth, process efficiencies, and market development?

Importantly, this session will dovetail with a separate discussion the following day featuring macroscale CNT product end-users, from aerospace OEMs to automotive suppliers and electronics manufacturers, offering a complementary view of rapidly emerging demand signals. Together, these sessions will chart the path to a robust, well-capitalized CNT ecosystem poised for global impact.

Facilitator
Adrian Tromel, Associate VP, Innovation Strategy & Investments — Rice University

CNT Producers
Terrance Barkan, Executive Director — Advanced Carbons Council
Ian Fellows, Chief Executive Officer, Americas — OCSiAl
John Fraser, Commercial Director, MIRALON® Technology — Huntsman Corporation
Luca de Rai, VP, Research & Development Energy — Prysmian Group
Hari Harikumar, VP & General Manager, Advanced Carbons — CHASM Advanced Materials

CNT Materials
Bryan Guido Hassin, CEO — DexMat

Investors
Ionel Nechiti, Investment Director — Aramco Ventures

2:40 – 3:10 PM — BREAK
Session 1 | RM 107 | 3:10 – 4:30 PM

Synthesis & Reactor Design

Chair: Jason Adams, Assistant Professor, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering — Rice University

  • 3:10 PM – Thomas P. Senftle, Associate Professor, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering — Rice University
  • 3:30 PM – Evgeni Penev (Boris Yakobson Group), Associate Research Professor, Materials Science & Nanoengineering — Rice University
  • 3:50 PM – Mauro Bracconi, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering — Politecnico di Milano
  • 4:10 PM – Matteo Maestri, Professor, Chemical Engineering — Politecnico di Milano

Session 2 | RM 108 | 3:10 – 4:30 PM

Applications: Soil Amendment, Environmental Impact, and Properties

Chair: Micah Green, Professor, Chemical Engineering — Texas A&M University

  • 3:10 PM – Gianni Royer Carfagni, Professor of Solids and Structural Mechanics — University of Parma
  • 3:30 PM – Vanessa Sanchez, Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering — Rice University
  • 3:50 PM – Juan José Castellón, Assistant Professor, Architecture — Rice University
  • 4:10 PM – Mark Goulthorpe , Associate Professor, Architecture — MIT; Founder — DECOi Inc


Parallel Scientific Sessions – Tuesday, May 13 | 9:00 AM – Noon

O'Connor Building for Engineering & Science

Note: The following two sessions run concurrently across different rooms.

Session 1 | RM 130 | 9:00 AM – Noon

Title

  • 9:00 AM – Adam Boies, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering — Stanford University
  • 9:20 AM – Marien Simeni, Richard and Barbara Nelson Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering — University of Minnesota
  • 9:40 PM – Audrey Dannar (Christian Reece Group), Postdoctoral Fellow — Harvard University
  • 10:00 AM – Sili Deng
    Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering — MIT
10:20 – 10:40 AM — BREAK
  • 10:40 AM – Mauricio Terrones, Verne M. Willaman Professor of Physics — Penn State University
  • 11:00 AM – Pawan Vedanti (Eric Stach Group), Postdoctoral Fellow — University of Pennsylvania
  • 11:20 AM – Ricardo Prada Silvy, CTO — CHASM Advanced Materials
  • 11:40 AM – Jeffrey Fagan, Project Leader, Particles, Tubes, and Colloids Project — NIST
Noon – 1:00 PM – LUNCH

Session 2 | RM 132 | 9:00 AM – Noon

Title

  • 9:00 AM – Karen Lozano, Trustee Professor, Materials Science and NanoEngineering — Rice University
  • 9:20 AM – Maria Sakovsky, Assistant Professor, Aeronautics and Astronautics — Stanford University
  • 9:40 AM – Juan José Vilatela, Head of Multifunctional Nanocomposites Group — IMDEA Materials Institute
  • 10:00 AM – Sibani Lisa Biswal, William M. McCardell Professor in Chemical Engineering — Rice University
10:20 – 10:40 AM — BREAK
  • 10:40 AM – Michelle Michot Foss
    Fellow in Energy, Minerals & Materials, Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute — Rice University
  • 11:00 AM – Geoffrey Wehmeyer
    Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering — Rice University
  • 11:20 AM – Douglas Natelson
    Harry Carothers Wiess Chair of Physics — Rice University
  • 11:40 AM – Daniel J. Preston
    Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering — Rice University
Noon – 1:00 PM – LUNCH


Session 3 | O'CONNOR BUILDING FOR ENGINEERING & SCIENCE | RM 130 | 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Workshop

The Future of Advanced Composites — The Role of CNTs

Abstract
Composites, in particular nanoengineered composites, are poised for the next push into new applications, especially metal-dependent use cases. Incorporation of CNT fibers adds electrical conductivity and thermal management, as well as enhancing strength, a major contribution of lightweight composites relative to metals and fabricated materials. CNTFs afford solutions to traditional carbon fiber challenges. We will explore trends in the development of advanced composites from the perspectives of developers and customers. Through facilitated discussion, we will roadmap challenges and potential solutions to commercial scale.

Facilitators
Michelle Michot Foss, Fellow in Energy, Minerals & Materials, Center for Energy Studies, Baker Institute — Rice University

Vinod Veedu, Assistant VP for Defense Research Advancement — Rice University

Introductions and Overview
Michelle Michot Foss and Vinod Veedu

Development and Applications
Igor Alvarado, Head of Business Development — Collins Aerospace
David Hatrick, VP, Strategic Marketing & Innovation — Huntsman Advanced Materials

Considerations for Manufacturing to Scale
Arthur W. N. Sloan, NRC Postdoctoral Fellow — Air Force Research Lab