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California NanoSystems Institute > News > Member News > August 28, 2024 | NSF Awards CNSI Members $1 million, 5 year grant as part of Clean Energy Technology Initiative

NSF Awards CNSI Members $1 million, 5 year grant as part of Clean Energy Technology Initiative

Aaswath Raman leads a UCLA project recently awarded a $1 million NSF grant to develop new materials that enhance energy efficiency and heat resilience by better managing radiant heat flow, especially in urban environments. (Image courtesy: UCLA Samueli)

The National Science Foundation has awarded UCLA faculty and members of the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA a five-year, $1 million grant as part of the NSF-wide Clean Energy Technology initiative.

With temperatures rising globally, the need for more sustainable cooling options is also growing. Heat losses and gains through windows account for 25-30% of overall building energy heating/cooling needs.

Led by UCLA Samueli professor Aaswath Raman, this project enables the synthesis of new materials that will tackle a significant fraction of this energy usage by more effectively managing the flow of radiant heat, particularly in urban heat island scenarios, thereby improving energy efficiency as well as heat resilience.  This grant will serve as a follow-on to the research undertaken as part of the CNSI’s Elman Family Innovation Fund Seed Funding Program.  

In addition to Raman, who is a professor of materials science and engineering, UCLA investigators include: 

  • Bruce Dunn, Distinguished Professor of Materials Science and Engineering and Bioengineering; Nippon Sheet Glass Company Chair in Materials Science
  • Sarah Tolbert, Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
  • Laurent Pilon, Professor of Mechanical, Aerospace Engineering and Bioengineering