Tour's scientific research areas include
nanoelectronics,
graphene electronics, silicon oxide electronics, carbon nanovectors for medical applications, green carbon research for enhanced oil recovery and environmentally friendly oil and gas extraction,
graphene photovoltaics, carbon supercapacitors, lithium ion batteries, CO2 capture, water splitting to H2 and O2, water purification, carbon nanotube and
graphene synthetic modifications,
graphene oxide, carbon composites, hydrogen storage on nanoengineered carbon scaffolds, and synthesis of single - molecule nanomachines which includes molecular motors and nanocars.