PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas (Oct. 20, 2025) – Prairie View A&M University Assistant Professor Yunxiang Gao, Ph.D., from the Department of Chemistry in the Samuel Brailsford College of Arts and Sciences has secured nearly $600,000 in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to pioneer a new way of creating carbon nanobuds—tiny molecular structures formed by bonding fullerene “buds” to carbon materials.
Yunxiang Gao, Ph.D.
Carbon nanobuds are known for their exceptional performance and potential use in sustainable energy applications but producing them with precision has remained a major challenge. Dr. Gao’s research aims to change that by introducing a novel, solution-based synthesis method that allows for better control of their structure and composition, resulting in higher-quality materials and fewer unwanted byproducts.
Working in collaboration with Argonne National Laboratory, Dr. Gao’s team will test the nanobuds in key clean energy processes such as fuel cell reactions and carbon dioxide reduction. The project also incorporates advanced analytical techniques—such as scanning electron microscopy and spectroscopy—to optimize and evaluate the nanobuds’ performance.
This work has the potential to significantly advance renewable energy technologies by improving catalyst efficiency and reducing environmental impact. For Prairie View A&M University, it strengthens research capacity, fosters national collaboration, and provides students with hands-on training in next-generation materials science and energy innovation.
By Joe McGinty