From the ancient stone and bronze ages to the present-day silicon age, materials have defined eras of human civilization. Breakthroughs in materials can completely disrupt current technology and accelerate economic growth. For example, the development of the abundant resource of silicon has accelerated communications, energy storage and computation speeds. In today’s rapidly changing world, there is a need for more advanced materials to keep up with the demands for more efficient devices and for finding solutions to issues like climate change. It’s no wonder why scientists are racing to synthesize the next superstar material.