Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

There is an apparent demand for scalable manufacturing methods for producing nanosensors for various industrial applications, such as trace molecule detection, photovoltaics, and biomedical diagnostics. Developing devices with ultra-sensitivity, accuracy, versatility, robust performance, and capacity to be fabricated in large volumes is key to translating innovative technologies from laboratory to real-world applications. This research program intends to build a versatile nanoplatform using scalable manufacturing techniques for real-time applications. Developing Scalable nanomanufacturing methods is critical in bridging the gap in commercializing nanoplatforms for real-world applications. Through previous discovery grants, we have pioneered the field of developing multi-functional, high-purity nanosensors using the laser ablative manufacturing technique. In addition, the multiphoton ionization process presents unique advantages for the fabrication of nanosensors, such as creating unique nanoarchitecture with high plasma temperature and density induced by the gigawatt pulse power, which other methods cannot fabricate. Hence, by exploiting the unique nanomanufacturing method, this application plans to i) create a performance-augmented nanoparticles network, a free-standing, integrated three-dimensional nanoarchitecture, ii) manipulate the laser parameters to create distinct three-dimensional nanoparticle network for application-specific nanoarchitecture that substantially increases the surface area for molecular adsorption providing ultrasensitivity and reproducibility. Furthermore, the unique structure of the nanoparticle network gives rise to enhanced optical and electronic properties, making it an ideal candidate for energy and photovoltaic applications. In addition, the structural nanoscale mobility and flexibility observed in these nanoparticle networks provide opportunities to develop unique physio-chemical interactive mechanisms between different molecules, iii) to advance a scalable manufacturing method to generate the nanosensors in large volume with an industrial-grade ultrashort laser suitable for commercialization. The program provides a multi-disciplinary research environment for the training of HQP. In addition, it has the potential to generate high throughput techniques for the manufacturing of next-generation nanoplatforms, which can be tailored for real-world applications effortlessly. In summary, the advancement of ultrashort laser-based scalable manufacturing techniques, which have applications in a variety of fields, will undoubtedly elevate Canadian life in every way, boost the country's competitiveness in the manufacturing market for product-differentiating nanotechnologies, open up new venture development opportunities, and ultimately boost Canadian economic activity through innovation.