Grant: Strategic Projects - Group
University of Western Ontario
$231,672.00
Efficient and low-cost light-emitting electrochemical cells of graphene quantum dots
EF 2016-17
Résumé
Canada currently spends $35 billion for electricity. The consumption of electrical energy in the lighting sector is ca. 20%. Lighting represents the ideal playing field for saving energy and reducing greenhouse gases. Light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) are one of the simplest kinds of lighting devices. They consist of very thin layer of light emitting materials sandwiched by two electricity contacts and emit white light as our fluorescent tubes used for lighting upon connection of electricity. LECs consume much less power and emit light stronger than our lighting bulbs. On the other hand, carbon is rich on the earth. Graphene is a flat sheet of bonded carbon atoms or a stack of these sheets, while grapheme quantum dots (GQDs) are pieces of these sheets as small as several nanometers (nm, 1 billionth meter). GQDs are luminescent and can be used in the above LECs. This proposal addresses our strategies of making LECs, using low cost GQDs. We will develop this kind of LECs on industry standard printed circuit boards (PCBs) or flexible PCBs, which are easy to use for lighting, and have a long durability. This project extends our patent-pending technology of one-pot electrochemical preparation of luminescent GQDs to the best performance and lowest cost ones. The LECs are expected to generate greater than 10% energy efficiency. Within three years, the strategic project will deliver prototypes of LECs in 10 cm x 10 cm pieces of GQD LEC devices. The strategic project will lead to the following benefits to Canada: (a) Wealth creation including new start-ups to produce the lighting products; new business in the value chain of these new start-ups; new and attractive employment opportunities; and (b) The health and environmental benefits include those associated with the green manufacturing considerations explained in the proposal, and with the introduction of green fabrication to reduce energy consumption, global warming potential in the next 100 years (GWP100), and other environmental loads.
Programme
Strategic Projects - Group
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Ontario, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
493924-2016
Name nom
Ding, Zhifeng
Department département
Chemistry
Organization id
36
Institution établissement
University of Western Ontario
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2016
Competition year année de concours
2016
Award amount
231672
Program id
STPGP
Program name en
Strategic Projects - Group
Program name fr
Projets stratégiques - De groupe
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1586
Committee name en
Strategic Projects - Advanced Manufacturing
Committee name fr
Projets stratégiques - Fabrication de pointe
Area of application code
500
Area of application group en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application group fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Area of application en
Manufacturing processes and products
Area of application fr
Procédés et produits industriels
Research subject code
2000
Research subject group en
Materials science and technology
Research subject group fr
Science et technologie des matériaux
Research subject en
Materials science and technology
Research subject fr
Science et technologie des matériaux
Partie
1
Nb partie
3
Application title
Efficient and low-cost light-emitting electrochemical cells of graphene quantum dots
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Canada currently spends $35 billion for electricity. The consumption of electrical energy in the lighting sector is ca. 20%. Lighting represents the ideal playing field for saving energy and reducing greenhouse gases. Light-emitting electrochemical cells (LECs) are one of the simplest kinds of lighting devices. They consist of very thin layer of light emitting materials sandwiched by two electricity contacts and emit white light as our fluorescent tubes used for lighting upon connection of electricity. LECs consume much less power and emit light stronger than our lighting bulbs. On the other hand, carbon is rich on the earth. Graphene is a flat sheet of bonded carbon atoms or a stack of these sheets, while grapheme quantum dots (GQDs) are pieces of these sheets as small as several nanometers (nm, 1 billionth meter). GQDs are luminescent and can be used in the above LECs. This proposal addresses our strategies of making LECs, using low cost GQDs. We will develop this kind of LECs on industry standard printed circuit boards (PCBs) or flexible PCBs, which are easy to use for lighting, and have a long durability. This project extends our patent-pending technology of one-pot electrochemical preparation of luminescent GQDs to the best performance and lowest cost ones. The LECs are expected to generate greater than 10% energy efficiency. Within three years, the strategic project will deliver prototypes of LECs in 10 cm x 10 cm pieces of GQD LEC devices. The strategic project will lead to the following benefits to Canada: (a) Wealth creation including new start-ups to produce the lighting products; new business in the value chain of these new start-ups; new and attractive employment opportunities; and (b) The health and environmental benefits include those associated with the green manufacturing considerations explained in the proposal, and with the introduction of green fabrication to reduce energy consumption, global warming potential in the next 100 years (GWP100), and other environmental loads.
