Fall 2018 | MS | Materials Science | GRE 332(Q-168/V-164) | GPA 8.40/ 10 | IIT (BHU)

Hi everyone,
My infobank is updated here: http://www.edulix.com/unisearch/user.php?uid=335744
My GRE AWA score is 5 out of 6. I got 114/120 in TOEFL (Reading = 30, Listening = 30, Speaking = 24, Writing = 30)
I am looking to specialize in nanotechnology, specifically in the field of two-dimensional semiconducting materials.
My initial list is:
1. Cornell University
2. Northwestern University
3. Carnegie Mellon University
4. University of Michigan Ann Arbor
5. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (scores sent)
6. Drexel University
7. Pennsylvania State University
8. University of California Santa Barbara
9. Stony Brook University
10. North Carolina State University (scores sent)
11. University of Texas, Dallas
12. University of Houston
13. University of Florida (scores sent)
14. University of California San Diego (scores sent)

I realise a lot of them are Ambi, and am open to suggestions for replacing them.
Also if possible I am looking for some feedback regarding Materials Science courses. My ultimate aim is to obtain a PhD in Materials Science, so if you could suggest whether to apply for MS or direct PhD, that would also help. Financial aid is a big factor for me, so any help regarding that would be highly appreciated.

Also something that will be obvious from my infobank is that I don't have any publications. So it's difficult to search for Uni's since most people admitted to top colleges usually have a paper. Any universities I should try applying to with my current profile? Or should I rewrite my entire list?

Any feedback is appreciated, thanks!