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TMI's core faculty lead cutting-edge research by running their grants through the institute, fostering collaboration and resource sharing.
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Our Materials Science and Engineering program is one of the best in the nation, and our graduates go on to be leaders in their fields.
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TMI supports interdisciplinary research at UT Austin, with over 100 faculty focusing on clean energy, nanotechnology, and advanced materials using our state-of-the-art facilities.
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Rigaku Miniflex 600 Diffractometer II
Instrument Capabilities
The MiniFlex 600 is a fast, powerful, compact benchtop x-ray diffraction system. Its capabilities include identification of crystalline phases, crystallinity, crystallite size, crystal structure determination. The system is equipped with an automated 6 position sample changer with sample spinning capability.
Fees and Policies
- UT Users: $7/hour
- Higher Education/State Agencies: $45/hour
- Corporate/External Users: $45/hour
Training
Users should register for the required in-person training course through UTLearn .
Apreo 2C loVac SEM
Instrument Capabilities
The Thermo Scientific Apreo 2 LoVac is a high-resolution scanning electron microscope designed for imaging and characterization of a wide range of materials, including non-conductive, beam-sensitive, and outgassing samples. The low-vacuum (LoVac) mode allows specimens that are difficult to examine under conventional high-vacuum conditions to be imaged with reduced charging and without requiring conductive coating.
Key features:
- Stage: 110 × 110 mm stage with 65 mm Z-travel, 360° rotation, and −15° to 90° tilt.
- Easy navigation: 6-megapixel Nav-Cam with a 160 × 105 mm field of view for on-screen sample tracking and navigation.
- Vacuum range: 10–500 Pa
- Large multi-purpose sample holder:
- Accommodates six ½-inch stubs.
- Three ½-inch stubs pre-tilted at 45°.
- NICol SEM column: Equipped with a Schottky field-emission electron source.
- Accelerating voltage: 200 eV–30 keV.
- Beam energy can be reduced to approximately 20 eV landing energy using beam deceleration.
- Beam current range: 1 pA–400 nA.
- Resolution: 0.8 nm at 30 keV in STEM mode.
- Resolution: 1.0 nm at 30 keV using in-lens detection.
- Resolution: 1.6 nm at 1 keV using in-lens detection.
- Electron detectors:
- Everhart–Thornley secondary electron detector (SED).
- In-lens T1 and T2 detectors.
- Low-vacuum (LoVac) detector.
- Microanalysis capabilities:
- EDS QUANTAX 200 detector for elemental analysis.
- QuickConnect: Enables convenient transfer and imaging of air-sensitive samples while minimizing exposure to ambient conditions.
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Fees and Policies
- UT Users: $38/hour
- Higher Education/State Agencies: $63/hour
- Corporate/External Users: $63/hour
Traning
Users should register for the required in-person training course through UTLearn.
Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (TOF.SIMS M6)
Information the Equipment Can Provide
Coming soon
Fees and Policies
- UT Users: $65/hour
- Higher Education/State Agencies: $248/hour
- Corporate/External Users: $248/hour
To become a new user of this facility, please read the Instrument Reservation Information page. If you are already a user you can make a reservation in FBS.
To become a user of this instrument you must first complete the Cleanroom Safety Class. Please contact the facility manager to schedule a training session.
Laurell Technologies Spincoater III
Information the Equipment Can Provide
Coming soon
Fees and Policies
- UT Users: $31/hour
- Higher Education/State Agencies: $54/hour
- Corporate/External Users: $46/hour
To become a new user of this facility, please read the Instrument Reservation Information page. If you are already a user you can make a reservation in FBS.
To become a user of this instrument you must first complete the Cleanroom Safety Class. Please contact the facility manager to schedule a training session.
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Texas Materials Seminar Series
The Texas Materials Seminar Series features MSE 397 Seminars, TMI Distinguished Lectureships, and TMI Special Seminars, where leading faculty and professionals from around the world share cutting-edge innovations and advancements in materials engineering with our students.
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$12M+
In Grant Funding
20+
Research Patents
10K+
Sq. Ft. of Research Labs
News
Zhantao Chen Publishes New Article on AI-assisted Tool
Zhantao Chen, an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering and a TMI-affiliate, has published an article on an AI tool in Nature Machine Intelligence. The article used AI to help researchers in ways that would assist in experimental tasks that are often labor-intensive and tiresome.
Terry Zheng & Yu Group Publish New Work on Water-Based Electrolytes
Materials Science and Engineering graduate student Tianrui (Terry) Zheng, under the supervision of Dr. Guihua Yu has published research in Advanced Materials introducing a biphasic electrolyte architecture that combines the strengths of water-based (aqueous) and organic-based electrolytes for long-duration, high-rate zinc metal batteries.
Get Better Sleep With Ultrasound Patch That Boosts REM Rest
A wearable bioelectronic device increased REM sleep in real-world trials, without invasive surgery or medication.
Published by UT News.
Yuebing Zheng Awarded 'New Directions' Seed Funding from UT OVPR
Yuebing Zheng was awarded seed funding through the University's Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors. The 'New Directions in Research' grants are one time payments that give faculty an opportunity to obtain proof-of-concept or pilot data for future, larger grants.
Terry Zheng Awarded UT Chevron Energy Graduate Fellowship
Tianrui (Terry) Zheng, a Materials Science & Engineering graduate student working with Dr. Guihua Yu, is a recipient of the 2026-2027 UT Chevron Energy Graduate Fellows Award from UT's Energy Institute.
