Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

The present proposal is for a benchtop powder X-ray diffraction system. The X-ray diffraction system will be used to characterize bulk materials and nanomaterials to gain information about (i) material formation, (ii) purity, (iii) crystallite size, (iv) synthetic reproducibility, and (v) structural details. This equipment will primarily support three research programs that are focused on the design, synthesis and characterization of novel materials for applications in groundwater and municipal wastewater remediation (adsorption, catalysis, and sensing), detoxification of chemical warfare agents, drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, and solar energy conversion. The materials include novel rare earth metal-organic frameworks (RE-MOFs), lanthanide-doped nanoparticles, dye-sensitized photoelectrodes, and semiconductors. In addition to supporting the research programs of the three applicants, the equipment will also support research programs in our department focused on biodiesel production, biogeochemistry, and organic semiconductors. The research activities supported by this equipment are significant for the field of materials chemistry, as well as nanochemistry, green chemistry, environmental chemistry, and sustainability. The equipment will allow for a better understanding of chemical structure and properties, which is imperative for designing and producing the next generation of materials for the relevant applications mentioned above. Research is expected to lead to commercial materials for safer and more efficient wastewater purification, protective equipment for soldiers and civilians, drug delivery, cancer treatment, and sustainable energy. Much of the research is focused on using rare-earth elements to synthesize new materials, and Canada has among the largest reserves of rare-earth elements in the world. Several provincial governments have recently invested millions of dollars to mine rare-earth elements in Canada, with a federal investment expected in the near future. Importantly, this equipment is also critical for training the next generation of high qualified personnel in the field of chemistry.