Undergraduate research projects tackle solar cells longevity, super-capacitor energy storage, and eco-friendly adhesive surfaces
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U of T materials engineering undergraduate students (from left) Yee Wei Foong, Stephanie Nyikos and Robert Alexander
February 11, 2015 | By Luke Ng
Imagine a world powered by solar cells made with environmentally-friendly organic materials, anti-stick surfaces that aren’t coated with harsh chemicals, and cost-effective, compact energy technologies that can rapidly deliver and store power for entire city blocks?
In an age of limited resources, we’re constantly faced with challenges that necessitate sustainable solutions to address global demands. And so, it’s up to our future generation of talented young researchers to develop the innovative technologies that will maintain the well-being of both our communities and ecosystems.
Here are three of our materials engineering undergraduate students who are working on making a greener tomorrow:
Environmentally-friendly, non-stick coatings inspired by mussels—Robert Alexander
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| A quagga mussel using its byssus—a protein-based “glue”—to attach to a glass surface. |
The Quagga Mussel is an invasive species found in the North American Great Lakes. It self-produces a protein-based “glue”—known as byssus—that allows the mussel to attach to a range of surfaces, even in water. Most often, it attaches itself to drainage pipes and ship hulls, resulting in major clogs and increased drag forces. The rapid accumulation of these mussels results in a variety of performance and economic issues, not to mention costly removal processes.
Robert Alexander, a fourth year materials engineering undergraduate student, works with professors Benjamin Hatton and Eli Sone to investigate a variety of these mussels. Their research involved two objectives: (1) figuring out the composition of its self-produced “glue” to determine their adhesion capabilities, and (2) to test their strength on a special, non-toxic coating the group has developed. This non-toxic coating, based on a parent technology known as Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces (SLIPS), utilizes micro-sized holes with a repellent liquid film on the interface to maximize non-stick capabilities. In other words, they’re developing the stickiest non-toxic glue and its countermeasure at the same time.
Increasing the shelf-life of organic solar cells—Stephanie Nyikos
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| Schematic of Nyikos’ organic solar device—initial data has pointed to increased shelf-life and stability through nitrogen encapsulation |
Organic materials-based solar cells present the best of both worlds. They harvest the sun’s energy without producing greenhouse gases and they’re made of environmentally-friendly, biodegradable compounds. One problem, however, is that their efficiency decreases significantly when in storage. This could pose a notable concern, particularly when panels might be put away during transportation, or covered by obstacles like snow.
Stephanie Nyikos, a third year materials engineering undergraduate student, works with chemical engineering professor Tim Bender to investigate nitrogen encapsulation of these organic photovoltaics to preserve their efficiency during down-time. The preliminary data in her research has pointed to increased shelf-life and stability of the organic solar cells she stored in a sealed nitrogen environment versus ambient surroundings.
“The success of encapsulating these organic solar cells is the first step to taking this technology outside of the lab and into the real world,” says Bender. “We’re quite excited to take this testing to a further stage.”
Engineering better and more cost-effective super-capacitors—Yee Wei Foong
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| Atomic model of Foong’s mixed-addenda polyoxometalate (POM) material used to increase energy storage in nano-carbon capacitor electrodes |
Fourth year materials engineering student Yee Wei Foong has been working on developing cost-effective materials for super-capacitors since the summer after his second year. Specifically, he has been focused on finding an inexpensive substitute for ruthenium dioxide (RuO2)—the current state-of-the-art material used for high-performance electrodes.
Working with his mentor, PhD candidate Matthew Genovese in Professor Keryn Lian’s Flexible Energy & Electronics Laboratory, Foong was able to successfully synthesize germanomolybdate (H4GeMo12O40)—a low-cost alternative used to modify nano-carbon capacitor electrodes. Not only does his new material work, but has also demonstrated a dramatic increase in energy storage on a micro-sized, lab-scale device. Foong has since co-authored two peer-reviewed journal articles and a conference presentation on this discovery.
For his fourth year thesis, Foong is taking his initial success to find out if a new material, known as mixed-addenda polyoxometalate (PMo9W3O403-)—an improved modification of germanomolybdate—will produce similar results on conventional-sized devices. “The energy storage readings on our scale-up applications are looking quite promising,” says Genovese.
“Our students fully understand the need for new materials and their critical role in building a sustainable future,” says Professor Jun Nogami, Chair of the Department of Materials Science & Engineering. “My sincerest thanks to our professors and graduate researchers who tirelessly guide and mentor our young bright minds to bring them to their fullest potential.”