Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Our research interests are to develop: electrochemical biosensors for monitoring molecules in complex matrices; novel advanced materials for energy-related applications; and, analytical tools to understand dissolved organic matter in aqueous environment with the purpose to acquire a fundamental understanding of these complex physico-chemical processes. In response to the urgent need to provide the Université de Sherbrooke with a platform to perform state-of-the-art electrochemistry, this proposal is for the purchase of a cutting-edge modern advanced electrochemical workstation. This workstation will support the research of Philippe Dauphin Ducharme (analytical chemistry), Jérôme Claverie (materials chemistry), Gessie Brisard (materials chemistry), Martin Désilets (materials chemistry and engineering) and Céline Guéguen (environmental biogeochemistry). Our multidisciplinary research team is composed of researchers from Chemistry, Biogeochemistry and Chemical Engineering who are at various stages in their academic careers. Should this initiative be funded via the NSERC RTI program, we will be able to renew aging (1980s) and precarious electrochemical infrastructure currently available on campus and transition towards modern electrochemical interrogation methods essential to support our research programs and growing needs for these analytical tools. The proposed workstation will allow for versatile electrochemical measurements providing in depth characterization capabilities of a wide array experimental systems studied in our respective research groups such as: biosensors, photocatalysts, batteries, fuel cells, molten salts and low (pM nM) concentration analytes in complex environmental matrices. We envision the workstation will propel our research programs and become a critical tool in addressing health, environmental and energy-related socioeconomical challenges that will benefit Québec and Canada.