University of Manitoba
Project: International Collaboration for Developing New Clean and Renewable Energy Systems
Funding Agency: The Province of Manitoba Science, Technology Energy & Mines
Program: Science and Technology International Collaboration Fund
Description: The goal of this collaborative project is the characterization of nanorod systems currently being developed at CCI in terms of composition, structure and electronic properties using state-of-the-art x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning Auger microscopy, scanning probe microscopy and transmission electron microscopy at the Manitoba Regional Materials and Surface Characterization Facility. In parallel, new approaches for assembling and orienting nanorods and creating ionic/electronic conducting membranes will take place at the U of M in collaboration with CCI researchers.
Faculty:
| Michael Freund, Department of Chemistry email Professor Michael Freund is a Professor of Chemistry and Canada Research Chair in Conducting Polymers at the University of Manitoba. His research focuses on the synthesis of conducting polymers as well as their structural and chemical modification to manipulate physical and electronic properties for electronics, energy storage and sensing applications. In addition, he possesses knowledge and expertise in the areas of electrochemistry, surface science and analytical chemistry. |
| Professor Torsten Hegmann, Department of Chemistry email Dr. Torsten Hegmann is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Manitoba. Research in his group focuses on the design of as well as structure-property relationships in nanocomposites including synthesis and self-assembly processes. Current projects include liquid crystal nanocomposites comprised of organic liquid crystals and dispersed nanoparticles for electro-optic applications and core/shell nanoparticles for directed drug convection. Hegmann's expertise is in the areas of liquid crystals, nanoparticles, self-assembly as well as thermal, optical and structural characterization of soft condensed matter systems. |
| Professor Douglas Thomson, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering email Professor Douglas Thomson is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Manitoba. His research focuses on instrumentation for monitoring of physical and biological processes. His present research covers scanning probe measurement of potential and capacitance, marker-less electrical diagnostics for single cells and instrumentation for Structural Health Monitoring. In addition he is working on a collaborative project exploring field-induced modification of conducting polymer composites for electronic applications. |
| Professor Derek Oliver from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering specializes in scanning probe technique development and materials characterization. |
Postdoctoral Fellows and Graduate Students
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| Michael McDonald is a Ph.D. candidate in Chemistry working on composite conducting polymer membranes to optimize ionic and electronic conductivity for photosynthetic application. | Iman Yahyaie is a Ph.D. candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering using scanning probe techniques to study the electronic properties of individual Si nanorods. | Brittney Day is an undergraduate student working on methodologies for making supported conducting polymer membranes and techniques for measuring their ionic and electronic conductivity. | Kevin McEleney (Ph.D. Queens University) is planning to investigate the structure and composition of nanorods using scanning Auger microprobe and x-ray photoelectron techniques. |
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| Shaune McFarlane (Ph.D. University of Alberta) is developing new polymerization techniques for creating conducting polymer membranes. | Oana Stamatoiu (Ph.D. University of Bucharest) is planning to develop methods for organizing semiconducting nanorods using liquid crystals. |
