Grant: Canada Research Chairs

The field of intermolecular forces and interfacial science examines fundamental physicochemical interactions among molecules and surfaces in complex fluids, crucial for various engineering and biological processes. Notably, Canada stands as a global mining leader with vast natural resource wealth encompassing fossil fuels and minerals, significantly bolstering the national economy. Many processes governing the extraction of natural resources, such as oil and minerals, are inherently governed by basic intermolecular and interfacial interactions occurring at the interfaces of different mineral solids, water, oil, and gas bubbles. The proposed Canada Research Chair program, led by Dr. Hongbo Zeng, will significantly enrich our understanding of intermolecular and interfacial interactions in intricate chemical engineering realms, particularly in oil production and mining sectors. Through state-of-the-art nanomechanical methods, this endeavor aims to deeply explore the complex physical principles governing interactions among components like colloidal particles, emulsion drops, bubbles, and polymers. Interfacial science underpins key areas of excellence at the University of Alberta, including oil sands, mineral processing, wastewater treatment, advanced materials, and nanotechnology. Serving as a catalyst, the Chair Program will foster cross-disciplinary collaborations, encourage innovative approaches in interfacial science, establish connections with Canadian companies to tackle global industry challenges, and elevate scholarly standards across relevant disciplines. The Chair program will mainly focus on two core research areas: (1) Investigating intermolecular forces and interfacial science that underlie interactions among colloidal particles, emulsion droplets, and bubbles pertinent to sustainable natural resources engineering. (2) Developing novel functional polymer materials and surfaces based on tunable intermolecular and surface interactions. These innovations aim to optimize the mentioned interfacial processes, enhancing operational efficiency within industrial contexts. Anticipated breakthroughs will lead to the development of innovative functional polymers and groundbreaking technologies, reshaping the landscapes of interfacial processes. These advances promise transformative solutions across domains such as oil recovery, mineral flotation, wastewater control, and the emerging field of bioengineering.