Yu Research Group

Energy & Environmental Nanotech Center @UTAustin, EE @ACSMatLett, AE @ScienceAdvances

[UT Austin @UTAustin]

Congratulations to the Class of 2026! 🎓🧡

We can't wait to see how you change the world 🤘

[UT Austin @UTAustin]

Tipping our (grad) cap to the Class of 2026!

#UT26

[Yu Research Group @UT_YuGroup]

@whl0903 Congrats Evan.

[Yu Research Group @UT_YuGroup]

Professor John Goodenough is a legendary scientist, a tremendously kind and supportive mentor with big heart for science and humanity, a very inspiring colleague for many of us. He is well remembered for his lasting impact and legacy on The Forty Acres @CockrellSchool @utmechengr

[The Nobel Prize @NobelPrize]

"We compete against problems, not against people."

John B. Goodenough is the oldest person ever to receive a #NobelPrize. He was 97.

Watch our interview with him. We talked to the extraordinary chemistry laureate about life, science and love: https://t.co/G0YOKZxaYZ

[Yu Research Group @UT_YuGroup]

Thanks @UTexasResearch for featuring our work on hydrogels for sustainable water harvesting and purification! @CockrellSchool @utmechengr @EnergyUT

[UT Austin @UTAustin]

What starts here was never meant to stay here.

Longhorn research and innovation reach far beyond the Forty Acres and are making an impact across Texas and beyond. 🤘

Learn more about the innovations happening across campus: https://t.co/D05GyOFV9U

[UT Austin @UTAustin]

A moment for the beautiful colors of campus 🌷

[Yu Research Group @UT_YuGroup]

Thank you @WelchFoundation for featuring this award! Very grateful of continued great support from @WelchFoundation, as Welch grant has played a critical role in enabling our exciting research discoveries related to water sustainability! @UTAustin @CockrellSchool @utmechengr

[The Welch Foundation @WelchFoundation]

Congratulations to 2022 #HackermanAwardee Guihua Yu on winning the Grand Discovery Prize in the 2025 Global Prize for Innovation in Water! He’s recognized for pioneering hydrogel systems enabling solar-driven water purification and global water solutions.

[Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) @GPIW_Prize]

The Global Prize for Innovation in Water wraps up its third edition, reinforcing its global presence and championing solutions that will shape the future of water.

[Yu Research Group @UT_YuGroup]

Such a great honor to receive the 2025 Grand Global Prize for Innovation in Water @GPIW_Prize award! Also a true recognition to all outstanding students and supportive faculty that I have pleasure to work with over years! Hook’em @UTAustin @CockrellSchool @utmechengr @EnergyU

[Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) @GPIW_Prize]

Guihua Yu, winner of the Grand Discovery Prize in the Global Prize for Innovation in Water.

[Global Prize for Innovation in Water (GPIW) @GPIW_Prize]

Guihua Yu, winner of the Grand Discovery Prize in the Global Prize for Innovation in Water.

[Yu Research Group @UT_YuGroup]

Congrats again @Weixin_Guan and Yaxuan! Big thanks to @UTAustin @CockrellSchool @utmechengr @EnergyUT for award highlights @InventorsHOF ! #Water #Energy #Sustainability

[The Daily Texan @thedailytexan]

Weixin Guan and Yaxuan Zhao, @UTAustin materials science and engineering graduate students, won the 2025 Collegiate Inventors Competition graduate category with their invention called AirGel, a solar-powered device that captures moisture in the air and releases it as water. The duo marks UT’s first graduate win since the competition’s inception in 1990, earning $10,000 and a patent acceleration certificate as they aim to combat water scarcity problems worldwide.

https://t.co/NoK6ie13Hs

[The Daily Texan @thedailytexan]

Weixin Guan and Yaxuan Zhao, @UTAustin materials science and engineering graduate students, won the 2025 Collegiate Inventors Competition graduate category with their invention called AirGel, a solar-powered device that captures moisture in the air and releases it as water. The duo marks UT’s first graduate win since the competition’s inception in 1990, earning $10,000 and a patent acceleration certificate as they aim to combat water scarcity problems worldwide.

https://t.co/NoK6ie13Hs

[USPTO @uspto]

Congratulations to student teams from @WashU, @UTAustin, @Calvin_Uni and @Cornell 🎉 The teams were recognized in the Collegiate Inventors Competition, connecting inventive spirit and entrepreneurship. Thanks to @InventorsHOF
for hosting the competition!

[UT Austin @UTAustin]

Congratulations to @Weixin_Guan and Yaxuan Zhao, graduate researchers with the Texas Materials Institute and @utmechengr at the @CockrellSchool for winning both the @InventorsHOF Collegiate Inventors Competition® graduates championship and People’s Choice Award!

Learn more about their invention "AirGel", a solar-powered atmospheric water-harvesting device produces clean drinking water using hydrogels made from agricultural and food waste, here ➡️ https://t.co/AMwaHfYLMd

#CIC2025

[Weixin Guan @Weixin_Guan]

What an unforgettable night with so many legends and rising innovators at #CIC2025 ! Truly honored to see AirGel recognized as both People’s Choice and Graduate Winner! Big thanks to @InventorsHOF @UT_YuGroup

[Yu Research Group @UT_YuGroup]

Biggest congrats @Weixin_Guan and Yaxuan as National CIC Graduate Winner! What an amazing journey and accomplishment!! @UTAustin @CockrellSchool @EnergyUT @utmechengr

[Inventors HOF @InventorsHOF]

The votes have been tallied and the 2025 Collegiate Inventors Competition People’s Choice and Graduate Winner is AirGel from @UTAustin! #CIC2025

@Weixin_Guan

[UT Austin @UTAustin]

A team of @cockrellschool students are finalists in the Collegiate Inventors Competition for their device that extracts drinking water from humidity!

One week from now they'll compete in this an annual competition that has rewarded innovations, discoveries and research by college and university students for the past 35 years.

Read more ➡️ https://t.co/FXW6qbI8Z3

[Inventors HOF @InventorsHOF]

Started from a @DARPA project to provide soldiers with safe water sources in deserts, @UTAustin @weixin_guan and Yaxuan Zhao developed AirGel, a gel-based solar water harvester that produces 6-12 liters of water daily using minimal power. https://t.co/fAsx2WoLFv #CIC2025

[Yu Research Group @UT_YuGroup]

Excited to share this student news: Weixin and Yaxuan selected for National CIC Graduate Finalist @InventorsHOF for their AirGel technology for solar water harvesting from air! @UTAustin @CockrellSchool @utmechengr @EnergyUT

[Weixin Guan @Weixin_Guan]

🚀 Honored to be a Finalist in the @inventorsHOF Collegiate Inventors Competition! @UT_YuGroup
💡 Our invention AirGel integrates material+system innovation for clean water.
🗳️ Help us win the People’s Choice Award: vote daily + share! Every vote matters.

#CIC2025 #cleanwater

[Weixin Guan @Weixin_Guan]

🚀 Honored to be a Finalist in the @inventorsHOF Collegiate Inventors Competition! @UT_YuGroup
💡 Our invention AirGel integrates material+system innovation for clean water.
🗳️ Help us win the People’s Choice Award: vote daily + share! Every vote matters.

#CIC2025 #cleanwater