Anyone who relies on battery-powered electronics has experienced the inconvenience and frustration of drained batteries. But to hold charges longer, batteries generally need to be larger and heavier—forcing manufacturers to choose between prioritizing battery life and offering the lightest, sleekest product. Texas State University graduate Chris Reyes and his company, Material are working to eliminate that tough choice. At its headquarters at TXST’s STAR Park technology incubator, the startup is developing a new type of long-lasting, rechargeable, 3D printed batteries.

The PREM Center for Quantum Materials Innovation and Educational Excellence recently organized the Science and Technology of Emerging Materials Symposium at the University of Cnetral Florida.

Earlier this year, two PREM CIMA faculty from Texas State University, Tania Betancourt and Sean Kerwin, were welcomed into the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) as part of the 2025 Class of Senior Members.

In late September, members of the NSF-funded Partnership for Research and Education in Advanced Materials (PREM) Center, Collaborative Research and Education in Advanced Materials (CREAM), and the DOE-funded Center for Electrochemical Dynamics and Reactions on Surfaces (CEDARS) attended the 71st American Vacuum Society International Symposium and Exhibition in Charlotte, North Carolina, where they presented their research.

A team of researchers from the U.S. and India has developed a powerful new sensor that can identify dangerous levels of iron in water faster, cheaper, and with far greater accuracy than existing methods. The project was led by Fei Yan, professor at North Carolina Central University (NCCU). Yan is also part of the NSF PREM for Hybrid Nanoscale Systems.

In a paper titled Enhanced active matter photocatalysis via Gold Nanoclusters, researchers show that atomically precise gold nanoclusters can act as motility catalysts for active-matter microswimmers. By exploiting the nanoclusters’ tiny size and controllable optical activity, they achieve nearly fivefold higher mean-square displacement under UV light than conventional TiO2-based microswimmers. The work opens a path to add new functionalities to microswimmers by using the diverse properties of gold nanoclusters.

During UT-Austin’s STEM Girl Day on Feb 22, 2025, the SparCS team from NAU ¡MIRA!-PREM highlighted its outreach work. Joined by the Center for Dynamics and Control of Materials, students, faculty, and staff introduced SparCS to the Austin community. They led hands-on activities for hundreds of middle-school girls and their families to spark interest in materials science, quantum tech, and photonics, making STEM fun and accessible.

A Texas State University undergraduate student has been awarded a Barry Goldwater Scholarship, one of the nation’s most prestigious awards for future scientists, mathematicians, and engineers.

Texas State University hosted the 2025 Conference Across MRSEC and PREM Schools (CAMPS), bringing together 94 students from over 30 universities. The event featured a speaker series with faculty and industry presenters, rapid-fire oral presentations, and poster sessions. Attendees also participated in a career panel, networking lunch, and toured research labs to learn about materials characterization equipment, including electron microscopy tools. The conference aimed to foster collaboration and networking among students and professionals in the field.