Nanotechnology can be defined as the science, engineering, and integration of functional materials at the 1 to 100 nm scale. Due to the small dimensions of nanostructured materials, a novel set of properties are observed. Exploiting those new properties is the core of Nanotechnology.  Nanotechnology requires the interdisciplinary support of the materials scientists and engineers to develop approaches for the characterization, integration into large scale systems, and new theoretical frame work. Our research group is dedicated to the study and understanding of the factors that govern transport phenomena (e.g. heat, mass, electric-carrier transport) in nanostructured materials for energetics, biosensing, medical, and biosecurity applications. Please use the link below to find out our current projects in this exciting field.

Porous materials having well-defined pore structures and surface functionalities are widely used in many areas of applied science and engineering.  The most commonly investigated porous materials include zeolites, metal organic frameworks, porous carbons, transition metal oxides, nanotubes, layered materials, nitrides, metals, polymers, gels, fibers, ceramics, glasses, membranes, and thermoelectric materials. We study the fundamental aspects, synthesis, characterization, structural properties, and applications of novel micro, mesa-, nano- and macro-porous materials.

Dr. Hongmei Luo Associate Dean of Research in the College of Engineering and Luke Barry Shires Professor of Chemical Engineering Office: JH 254 Phone: (575) 646-4204 email: hluo@nmsu.edu Educational Background: Ph. D.,  Chemical Engineering, Tulane University (2006) B.S., Chemistry, Fuyang Normal University, China (1992)

Dr. Thomas A. Manz Associate Professor Office: JH 150 Phone: (575) 646-2503 email: tmanz@nmsu.edu Educational Background: Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Purdue University (2009) M.S., Chemical Engineering, Purdue University (1998) B.S., Chemical Engineering, The University of Toledo (1994)

Student Activities: 

Oral Presentations:

• Kim Pestovich, Jessica Houston, Nancy Flores, Hongmei Luo, Nanomaterials for nitrate removal from water, NM Space Grant Scholarship Colloquium, Las Cruces, Nov. 3, 2017 (oral).
• Joshua Hill, Qianglu Lin, Hongmei Luo, Shuguang Deng, Baraka Lwoya, Marco Dunwell, Synthesis of zeolite from an energy conserving route using seed directed crystallization, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Minneapolis, Nov. 16-21, 2011 (oral).
• Morones, I., Brewer, C. E., Opportunities of rare earth elements (REE), NMSU Research and Creativity Week, Las Cruces, November 5.

Poster:

• Y. Xu, Q. Lin, L. Fei, J. Hill, J. Urquijo, Y. Chen, M. Dunwell, B. S. Lwoya, H. M. Luo, Chemical solution approach to nanostructured materials, The NMSU College of Engineering Dean’s Advisory Council meeting and tour, Los Alamos, August 10-11, 2011 (poster).
• Morones, I., Martinez Bejarano, C. A., Martinez-Monteagudo, S., Brewer, C. E., Greener Extraction of Rare Earth Elements (REE) from Coal Fly Ash, 2022 AICHE Annual Meeting, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Phoenix, AZ, November 14.
• Flores, R. N., Brewer, C. E., Rare Earth Elements from Coal Fly Ash, 2022 Student Research Conference, NM Alliance for Minority Participation, Las Cruces, October 7.
• Ghanbari, Y., Brewer, C. E., Martinez Bejarano, C., Morones, I., Rare Earth Element Recovery from Coal Fly Ash, 2021 AICHE Annual Meeting, Boston, MA, November 8.
• Morones, I., Brewer, C. E., Opportunities for Rare Earth Elements, 2021 LDRD Student Research Poster Session, Sandia National Labs, Virtual, September.
• Ghanbari, Y., Brewer, C. E., Quantification of Rare Earth Elements, 2021 LDRD Student Research Poster Session, Sandia National Labs, Virtual, September 2.
• Walker, K., Brewer, C. E., Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Rare Earth Elements from Coal Fly Ash, 2021 LDRD Student Research Poster Session, Sandia National Labs, Virtual, September 2.

Publications:

• B. Yuan, J. Wang, Y. X. Chen, X. F. Wu, H. M. Luo, S. Deng, Unprecedented Performance of N- doped Activated Hydrothermal Carbon towards C2H/CH4, CO2/CH4, and CO2/H2 Separation, J. Mater. Chem. A 4, 2263-2276 (2016).
• B. Yuan, X. Wu, Y. Chen, J. Huang, H. M. Luo, S. Deng, Adsorption of CO2, CH4, and N2 on Ordered Mesoporous Carbon: Approach for Greenhouse Gases Capture and Biogas Upgrading, Environmental Science & Technology 47, 5474-5480 (2013).
• B. Yuan, X. Wu, Y. Chen, J. Huang, H. M. Luo, S. Deng, Adsorptive Separation Studies of Ethane- methane and Methane-nitrogen Systems using Mesoporous Carbon, Journal of Colloid Interface Science 394, 445–450 (2013).