The Catalysis & Nanomaterials Laboratory


The Catalysis and Nanomaterials Laboratory, directed by Professor Michael S. Wong, is located in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, in the George R. Brown School of Engineering at Rice University, Houston, TX. Our research program addresses engineering problems using the tools of chemical engineering and materials chemistry. How can we design heterogeneous catalysts that enable the sustainable use and management of our natural resources? We develop catalytic systems for clean water, for clean energy, and for clean chemistry. In collaboration with researchers from UT El Paso, ASU, and Yale in the NEWT Center, we seek scientific understanding and nano-enabled engineering solutions to treat contaminated water in a fit-for-purpose manner. In the RiceWaTER Institute, we pursue water technologies, entrepreneurship, and research activities towards sustainable water treatment. Our laboratory is located in the Ralph S. O’Connor Building for Engineering and Science .

We pride ourselves in fostering a culture of inclusion, respect, and excellence. We believe diversity, in thought and in experience, is critical to maximizing success in science and engineering.

Our Research.

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PFAS Destruction
Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction
Produced Water Treatment for Reuse & Recycle
Catalysis for Water Clean-Up
Oil Recovery & Devosification
Biomass Upgrading
Nanomaterials Synthesis
Catalyst Design & Optimization

Recent News.

We welcome Dr. Jonathan Lucas (PhD, LSU) to our group as our newest postdoctoral researcher! April 14, 2025
We congratulate Dr. ByeongJun Cha on starting his new research program as assistant professor at Seoul National University of Science and Technology ! Mar, 2025
Kiheon was selected as a 2025 ACS Graduate Student Awardee in Environmental Chemistry - congratulations! Feb 03, 2025
Youngkun has been selected as Postdoctoral Fellow at the WaTER Institute. Congrats! Jan 22, 2025
We welcome Ayesha Tariq (MSNE MS, Rice) to our group, who will be pursuing her PhD in the field of Materials Science and NanoEngineering! January 20, 2025
Prof. Wong to receive Henry J. Albert Award from International Precious Metals Institute! Dec 19, 2024
Prof. Wong named associate editor for Environmental Science and Technology!" Nov 26, 2024
A call for papers for a ES&T special issue on "Materials Science and Environmental Applicability" deadline June 1, 2025." Nov 12, 2024
Happy to contribute to the Rice Water Technologies Entrepreneurship and Research (WaTER) Institute Nov 5, 2024
Congrats to Kiheon on his first first-author paper (on nitrate reduction catalysis)!" Oct 24, 2024
We are delighted to host Rajvikram Singh (IIT Kanpur) as a Mehta Rice Engineering Scholar this fall! September 15, 2024
Congratulations to Jun for being selected to receive a Postdoctoral Fellowship Program(Nurturing Next-generation Researchers) in 2024 granted by National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)! September 05, 2024
Prof. Wong is leading the Rice PFAS Alternatives and Remediation Center (R-PARC)! Aug 30, 2024
We welcome Gunhak Oh (Environmental Engineering MS, KAIST) to our group, who will be pursuing his Environmental Engineering PhD! August 15, 2024
Grad student Josh Samba and undergraduate Abe Nelson represented the Rice team at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s P3 National Student Design Expo Experience. The team won the 2024 P3 Sustainable Design Student Award - congratulations! Jul 18, 2024
Prof. Wong presented an AIChE webinar on "How Chemical Engineers Can Contribute Sustainable Solutions to the PFAS Problem!" Viewable here Jun 24, 2024
Congratulations again to Drs. Bo Wang, Hunter Jacobs, and Austin Fehr! May 4, 2024
Dr. Wong presented at SERDP/ESTCP webinar on "PFAS Destructive Technologies: New Frontiers" May 2, 2024
Prof. Wong guest edited a Collection of reviews and research articles selected from the first three years of , on environmental materials research! (with Prof. Jessica Ray and Prof. Steven Suib) Apr 03, 2024
Juan Donoso received an ALTRA-SANEXEN scholarship to work on scalable PFAS destruction technologies - congratulations!" Mar 22, 2024
Hunter Jacobs successfully defended his PhD thesis on "Operando Analysis of Catalyst Restructuring for Sustainable Chemical Production." Congratulations! Feb 26, 2024
Prof. Wong is leading the Rice WaTER Institute’s public health research thrust! Feb 01, 2024
Prof. Wong guest edited the first 2024 issue of ACS ES&T Engineering on "Advancing Environmental Research through Computational Modeling" with Prof. Tom Senftle and Prof. Wen Liu! Jan 12, 2024
The Wong research team selected by U.S. Department of the Interior for catalytic treatment of PFAS! Jan 05, 2024

News Archive