Grant: Applied Research Tools and Instruments Grants

Advanced materials and nanocrystalline coatings are providing solutions to a myriad of challenges facing the energy and environment sectors today. Cost-effective, reliable and long-term energy conversion and storage technologies are essential for society to keep pace with the ever-growing demand for electricity. Viable and affordable energy storage technologies have great potential to improve the existing electric power grid, to facilitate the expansion of renewable energy technologies, and to offer an alternative to fossil-based fuels. Improvements to electrochemical energy storage devices, including lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries, electrochemical ultra-capacitors and electrolyzers, have been identified as critical enabling technologies for advanced, reliable and cost-effective energy storage. New advanced materials with high energy and power densities, longer cycle lives, low cost and better reliability are needed. One of the most important steps is to 'characterize' such materials to understand how their desired properties can be altered using thermal, chemical, mechanical or other processes. The proposal goal is to enhance the capacity of Lambton College's Advanced Nano-Engineered Materials Laboratory by acquiring an X-Ray Diffractometer and Frequency Response Analyzer. The requested equipment will eliminate much of the guesswork and effectively pre-screen novel materials for energy applications. In addition, this infrastructure will expand Lambton College's collaborative applied research portfolio in the area of ""Advanced Materials"". This equipment will be used by four local companies through existing and new collaborative research projects.