Materials for Energy and the Environment

The program is involved in the design, synthesis and characterization of molecular and inorganic nanoscale and nanoporous materials for energy and environmental applications. These nanoscale materials include single wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) based composite materials for light-weight industrial applications, quantum dots for light harvesting, and nanoporous materials for gas sequestration, storage and disposal.

SIMS leads in the synthesis, purification and chemistry of SWCNT. SWCNTs have exceptional electrical, mechanical, physical and chemical properties suitable for applications in a variety of Canadian industries. The integration of this material into ultralight weight, stiff, and tough composites has the potential to provide revolutionary materials to various Canadian industries including the construction, aerospace and automotive sectors. SIMS is currently underway in establishing a SWCNT Technology Centre at NRC to be a driver for developing integrated composite materials solutions for industrial applications.

SIMS is also a leader in the structure and properties of gas hydrates, an important energy resource located in the Canadian Arctic and on ocean floors. Natural gas hydrates are a major global concern as they have potential as an energy resource, and as a material capable of producing massive greenhouse gas emissions. The natural gas hydrate structure, stability, gas content, effect of mineral surfaces, mechanisms of hydrate formation and decomposition, and methods for hydrate control are all active areas of international research, and research in which the SIMS plays a leading role.

SIMS develops NMR techniques and probes for the characterization of gas hydrates and development of new materials for gas storage and CO_2­ sequestration. New techniques are currently being developed for the characterization of materials targeted towards applications in the environmental and energy fields. For more information on SIMS' NMR Facilities, visit NRC's NMR Network.

Related Information

Institutes:

• NRC Steacie Institute for Molecular Sciences