Think those flat, glassy solar panels on your neighbour’s roof are the pinnacle of solar technology? Think again.
Researchers in the University of Toronto’s Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering have designed and tested a new class of solar-sensitive nanoparticle that outshines what we currently consider state of the art.
This new form of solid, stable light-sensitive nanoparticles, called colloidal quantum dots, could lead to cheaper and more flexible solar cells, as well as better gas sensors, infrared lasers, infrared light emitting diodes and more. The research, led by post-doctoral researcher Zhijun Ning (ECE) and Professor Ted Sargent (ECE), was published this week in Nature Materials
Collecting sunlight using these tiny colloidal quantum dots depends on two types of semiconductors: n-type, which are rich in electrons; and p-type, which are poor in electrons. The problem? When exposed to air, n-type materials bind to oxygen atoms, give up their electrons, and turn into p-type. Ning and colleagues modelled and demonstrated a new colloidal quantum dot n-type material that does not bind oxygen when exposed to air.
Maintaining stable n- and p-type layers simultaneously not only boosts the efficiency of light absorption, it opens up a world of new optoelectronic devices that capitalize on the best properties of both light and electricity. For you and me, this means more sophisticated weather satellites, remote controllers, satellite communication, or pollution detectors.
“This is a material innovation, that’s the first part, and with this new material we can build new device structures,” said Ning. “Iodide is almost a perfect atom for these quantum solar cells to bond with, having both high efficiency and air stability—no one has shown that before.”
Ning’s new hybrid n- and p-type material achieved solar power conversion efficiency up to eight per cent—among the best results reported to date.
But improved performance is just a start for this new quantum-dot-based solar cell architecture. The powerful little dots could be mixed into inks and painted or printed onto thin, flexible surfaces, such as roofing shingles, dramatically lowering the cost and accessibility of solar power for millions of people.
“The field of colloidal quantum dot photovoltaics requires continued improvement in absolute performance, or power conversion efficiency,” said Sargent. “The field has moved fast, and keeps moving fast, but we need to work toward bringing performance to commercially compelling levels.”
This research was conducted in collaboration with Dalhousie University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology and Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
8:07 AM: the Gardiner Expressway rumbles with thousands of vehicles driving downtown to work, each with its own combustion engine releasing a barely-visible trail of exhaust into the atmosphere.
Is there a better way to move people around our city? If so, what is it? These are questions that Professor Heather MacLean (CivE) explores in several sustainability-focused courses she’s pioneered at U of T. This week, MacLean was recognized with an Excellence in Education Award for the Promotion of Sustainable Practices by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
CMHC established the Excellence in Education Award in 2003 to honour outstanding educational contributions to sustainable practices. Maclean was selected based on her efforts to integrate sustainable community development concepts into the academic curriculum.
MacLean’s research has focused on evaluating the sustainability of products, processes and engineering projects. She has made key contributions in developing novel methods to examine issues related to transportation, energy and urban systems.
“I teach students broadly about sustainability concepts, and focus on a life cycle approach as it is generally viewed as the foundation for sustainability assessment,” said MacLean. “By examining the life cycle of a product or project, from resource extraction, through manufacture/construction, use and end-of-life, students explore the overall impact of developments, taking into account complex environmental and socio-economic factors. I encourage students to think deeply about infrastructure challenges and to develop unique solutions that will benefit society.”
Maclean has created several innovative courses that promote sustainable practices, including the graduate course “Evaluating Sustainability of Engineering Activities”, the first course in Canada – and among the first worldwide – that focused on introducing and applying sustainability and life cycle evaluation methods.
In 2010, MacLean developed the first undergraduate civil engineering course in Canada – and one of only two in North America – on sustainable energy systems. She also completely revamped an existing undergraduate course, “Engineering Project Management and Finance” to include a module focused on sustainability implications of large-scale infrastructure projects. This is a core course for students within the Engineering Science Infrastructure option.
“Professor Heather MacLean’s initiatives in research, teaching and curriculum development are providing our students with the crucial competencies to meet future sustainability challenges” said Dean Cristina Amon. “I am grateful for her exceptional contributions and delighted that the CMHC has honoured her with this richly-deserved recognition.”
Nausea, vomiting, hair loss – these are just a few of the unpleasant side effects of chemotherapy. Although the drugs are designed to kill cancerous cells and save lives, the potent chemicals destroy tissues and can damage the human body.
Professor Molly Shoichet (ChemE, IBBME) is leading a multidisciplinary team of researchers who are developing new ways to administer drugs that target only cancerous tissues, leaving the healthy ones intact. This week, Shoichet received one of the University of Toronto’s most prestigious titles: University Professor. The distinguished rank is given to less than two per cent of tenured faculty, serving to highlight her outstanding contributions to research and teaching.
As a Canada Tier 1 Research Chair in Tissue Engineering, Shoichet’s research tackles a wide scope of medical-related challenges, from healing spinal cord injuries to blindness using stem cell therapy. The impact of her work extends beyond the laboratory, driven in part by her dedication to mentoring, teaching and motivating her students and colleagues.
“Professor Shoichet is an inspirational researcher and passionate innovator in biomedical engineering,” said Dean Cristina Amon. “On behalf of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, I offer my heartfelt congratulations for this richly-deserved recognition. We are all tremendously proud of her commitment to excellence and her pioneering discoveries.”
U of T Engineering’s Sydney Goodfellow spoke with Professor Shoichet about her passion for research and education.
With projects ranging from stem cell therapy to treatment of disease, what sort of impacts do you expect your research to have?
I have always thought that we, in academia, should focus on answering big questions and solving difficult problems. I like to think of our research as the interface of applied chemistry and applied biology. Ultimately, we aim to enhance tissue repair and functional recovery in diseases associated with stroke, spinal cord injury, blindness and breast cancer. We’re able to work in diverse fields due to the strength of our graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, technicians and collaborators.
Your diverse research has received attention around the world. Can you share some of the recent projects you and your team are working on?
Currently we are designing polymers – which are essentially long chains of hundreds or thousands of tiny molecules – for use in biology and medicine. We’re excited about many of our projects, like designing novel ways to deliver therapeutic biomaterials to the spinal cord, brain or eye; creating innovative hydrogels that allow us to grow cells in three-dimensional environments that mimic nature; and, developing new methods for targeted drug delivery in cancer. From our lab at U of T, we have the privilege of collaborating with leading experts locally, as well as those in Canada and around the world.
As a University Professor and leader of a lab that has graduated over 100 researchers in two decades, your dedication to teaching and education is clear. How do you balance the educational and research sides of your career?
Whether it’s for students in the classroom or scientists in the lab, I am fully dedicated to the academic mission of advancing knowledge. I really enjoy bringing research into the classroom and sparking imaginations.
I have received significant support from my colleagues in the Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry [department], which allows me to teach those subjects that I’m most adept at teaching, while providing me with the opportunity to devote meaningful time to research. As a mother of two teenage boys, I’m also blessed with a husband who supports my career aspirations. Balance is something that I strive for everyday.
What motivates you to pursue your research?
I also love the pursuit of knowledge. I love working with the brilliant researchers in my lab, attempting to answer questions together – questions that have long gone unanswered, or even unasked. Discovery is fascinating and wonderful.
I also love learning about companies, their products and how they are making a difference in people’s lives. The raison d’etre of biomedical engineering is the same: I aspire to advance our research knowledge towards new applications in medicine. While I understand that many stars must align for this to come to fruition, this is one of my great passions and a significant motivation.
If you could give yourself as a student a piece of career advice, what would it be?
I encourage students to pursue their dreams. If they spend their lives doing what they love, they will spend more time doing it and thus be more likely to succeed. I have been particularly blessed with opportunities and have worked hard to bring them to fruition.
Read more about Molly Shoichet’s research.
When recent U of T Engineering graduate Mauricio Curbelo (CivE 1T4) was in his second year, he helped lay the groundwork for one of the largest donations in Engineering Society (EngSoc) history.
He just didn’t know it at the time.
As EngSoc’s vice-president, external, Curbelo was part of a team that established the Skule Endowment Fund in 2011 – a fund generated by annual student contributions of $100 and intended to finance a variety of student-related initiatives.
It was this same fund that EngSoc drew from in 2013, under Curbelo’s then-presidency, to donate $1 million to the Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CEIE), providing a dedicated space for student clubs to socialize, hold events and collaborate on group projects.
“The Engineering Society’s generous commitment to the CEIE speaks volumes of our students’ dedication to engineering excellence,” Dean Cristina Amon said. “It’s a remarkable demonstration of support and proves just how vital the new collaborative space will be to future students.”
U of T Engineering’s Jamie Hunter spoke with Curbelo about the EngSoc donation, what it means for future students and his vision for the planned space in the CEIE.
How did EngSoc come to decide on donating to the CEIE?
It was never really a question as to whether EngSoc would contribute toward the CEIE. We had the money [in the Skule Endowment Fund] and that’s what it was intended for. We thought it was a great opportunity to make a contribution, have a seat at the table, top up the project support and put the student space issue on the map.
EngSoc’s donation is quite sizeable, especially for one generated from student funding. Why $1 million?
A $2 million donation was required to name the basement space of the CEIE. We donated $1 million and the University offered to match it. I think the Faculty would have provided student space no matter what, but to have it named after EngSoc sends a good message.
As an alumnus, you’re not going to benefit from the space the way future students will. How do you feel about this?
When EngSoc was discussing the donation, not one person ever questioned: Why would we give if we won’t enjoy it? It was never a consideration for anyone. And I think the more that you do outside of the classroom, the more you see the impact of alumni donations and their generosity. We all understood the impact that alumni had on us when we were still in school, so for us to be able to give back to future generations was really a no-brainer.
What’s your ideal vision for the space? What do you hope future students will get out of it?
The ideal vision is for a versatile space that students are in charge of and maintain, and makes it easier to get involved and do things outside of the classroom.
The one thing that students asked for most when we ran our clubs was storage space. And it makes sense because most clubs are not designed to be huge – they’re just small interest groups – and chances are they have supplies and a bunch of equipment they have to carry around. It makes a big difference to have one small locker somewhere on campus where they can keep that stuff. It makes it easier for those people to be involved and to balance school with extracurriculars.
The other important thing is for students to be able to easily book meeting rooms. EngSoc has always believed that the more things you do outside of the classroom, the more prepared you’ll be for real-world experiences when you graduate.
When the CEIE finally opens and you have the opportunity to stand inside the EngSoc student space, how will you feel?
I’ll be happy that we were able to do something that future generations can benefit from the same way that we currently appreciate what others have done for us. To now be on the giving end is a tremendous honour, not just for [EngSoc] but all the students who have generously given to the Skule Endowment Fund.
Read more about collaborative learning space in the CEIE.
Whether it’s turning canola oil into diesel fuel or a wristband that unlocks your smartphone with your heartbeat, the source of a truly transformational idea can often seem mysterious or coincidental.
Do they come from mentorship and training? Timely investment? A specially designed space? Or, the right mix of diverse people working together?
To engineering professor Jonathan Rose (ECE) and Professor Emeritus Joseph Paradi (ChemE, MIE), brilliant ideas come from all of the above – and they’re no accident.
Rose and Paradi are both leading initiatives at U of T – an engineering business minor and entrepreneurship certificate, respectively – aimed at encouraging students to grow new ideas into entrepreneurial ventures that equip students with the necessary skills to succeed.
“Sometimes,” said Rose, “you find the skills for success only when you learn how to fail. We give students a safe environment to try things out.”
U of T Engineering’s Sydney Goodfellow spoke with Professors Rose and Paradi about the importance of entrepreneurial education and how the Faculty is helping students realize their own game-changing ideas.
Why is entrepreneurship and business knowledge important for engineering students?
Joseph Paradi: Entrepreneurship isn’t just important; it’s endemic to the learning process. Engineers are inventors, innovators and builders by nature. We call it ‘applied’ science because we solve real-world problems that benefit mankind. It makes sense that what drives us to pursue engineering may also lead us to be interested in business. It’s a way to deliver – to apply – our results.
Jonathan Rose: The rate of change of technology and its applications are increasing exponentially, and engineers have the right skill set to drive this innovation, but it will also help them greatly to have some business knowledge. Learning about entrepreneurship and business creates opportunities for students to have an exciting career.
The Faculty offers an engineering business minor; how does it enhance the engineering curriculum and engage students with business and finance?
Rose: The Engineering Business minor works in partnership with U of T’s Rotman School of Management, and requires students to complete six relevant credits. This includes three courses in the fundamentals of finance, marketing, strategy and people management.
The minor’s goal is to introduce students to the language and concepts of business, so that they can participate in all discussions that happen in a company. What is a market? How do you know your idea is competitive? If there are competitors, what strategies do you need to stay on top? If you can inform technical knowledge with business knowledge, you’re already way ahead.
There is also an entrepreneurship certificate offered in U of T Engineering. How does it benefit the engineering student?
Paradi: The [Entrepreneurship] certificate serves as a tangible reflection of the fact that a student has gone through this intensive two-term course – one credit in fall and one in spring – that challenges them to shadow successful entrepreneurs, write business plans, learn the technical aspects of business and finance and much more.
In addition to the technical know-how, we also engage in less tangible challenges, posing ethical questions that encourage students to trust their instincts. In order to have confidence, it’s important for students to have a solid understanding and knowledge of business to draw from.
In addition to this minor and certificate, what are some other entrepreneurship initiatives and opportunities on campus?
Paradi: There are myriad opportunities on campus… Of course, there’s the [Entrepreneurship] Hatchery. Undergraduates are remarkably inventive; they don’t know what can’t be done, so they try anything. To encourage that innovational spirit, we’ve made all our resources available to them – hundreds of millions of dollars worth of tools and facilities, mentors, professors, teams of like-minded students – all available through the Hatchery’s program. At the end of the summer, these empowered students present a business idea to carry forward.
Rose: The goal of the Hatchery is exactly that, in 10 or 15 years, we’ll be able to look at graduates who are successful entrepreneurs and say that they had a formative and enabling experience at the Hatchery. It’s not about winning, or culling applicants and ensuring success, or combing for the next Zuckerberg, it’s about giving students an opportunity to try their ideas and see what works and what doesn’t – to experience potential failure and grow from it.
[The Hatchery] works in collaboration with a lot of other entrepreneurial ventures on campus, like the Institute for Leadership Education in Engineering (ILead), the Impact Centre, the Creative Destruction Lab and more. We create a community where students can learn from each other, network and share ideas.
What impact do you see U of T’s investment in entrepreneurship having on the Canadian economy?
Rose: The impact is crucial: the economy of the future rests on the start-ups of today. Technology is changing more and more rapidly, so there’s a risk in not investing in innovation. We don’t want to get left behind.
In Canada, we have everything we need to be a world leader in business – infrastructure, financial support and amazing institutions – but sometimes we can be conservative in our approach. We need to teach our students to take risks, be ambitious. With initiatives like the Hatchery, we are giving our students the confidence they need to challenge that conservatism and change the economy.
Paradi: We have to take charge of life, and take charge of Canada – we can’t give things away. That’s what entrepreneurship is about: improving our country.
When U of T Engineering first opened the Entrepreneurship Hatchery two years ago, executive director Joseph Orozco had an ambitious goal: 20 student teams annually by the program’s fourth year.
Now, a year ahead of schedule, the early-stage ideas factory has sailed past expectations – unveiling 37 groups at a recent Hatchery Kick Start event on May 2.
“[The Hatchery] owes such remarkable engagement to our students’ interest in entrepreneurship and the value this experiential learning opportunity brings to them,” said Orozco. “With the support of our mentors and the passion and hard work of our students, we look forward to a lively and engaging journey. I can already see a lot of promise and potential in the ideas the students have brought forward so far.”
The Hatchery – which offers students mentorship, along with unprecedented access to the Faculty’s vast research infrastructure – encourages students to form new ideas and turn them into start-up companies. Popularity for the program continues to grow, with organizers attracting students through outreach events, like speaker series and “idea markets”.
At the Kick Start event, several student groups presented innovative ideas they want to develop through the program – from a new jacket with customized heating abilities to a showerhead that offers live commentary on your water usage.
Take a closer look at three teams in this year’s cohort:
The Shour
Aakash Goel, Govind Peringod & Kramay Patel (all EngSci 1T6)
(Photo: William Ye).
Have you ever felt like time stops when you’re in the shower? You think you’re in for five minutes, but 30 minutes go by, the water runs cold and you hear your roommate banging on the door?
Here to help with this thoroughly first-world problem is the Shour, conceived by co-inventors Aakash Goel (EngSci 1T6), Govind Peringod (EngSci 1T6) and Kramay Patel (EngSci 1T6). The Shour is an innovative showerhead that provides live feedback on showering habits, as well as customized controls to save water, time and money.
“Shour is an amazing team to mentor,” said Isis Caulder (EngSci 8T9, ElecE MASc 9T1, LLB 9T5) Partner, Intellectual Property at Bereskin & Parr LLP and head of B&P’s Clean Tech Practice Group, and the team’s new mentor. “Not only are they creating customer-friendly technology with potentially far reaching environmental impact, they are also an incredibly talented and passionate team.”
Northern Spark
Tammi Hawa, Jenniver Rovt & Katie Gwozdecky (all MechE 1T7)
successful together,” said team mentor Hadi Aladdin (Photo:
Natasha Ouslis).
The team behind Northern Spark invented a new type of temperature-controlled outerwear – a jacket that gives its wearer the ability to individually control heating within various parts of the garment.
“When we commute to school or work, we leave feeling comfortable, yet arrive feeling sweaty in some areas and cold in others,” said Tammi Hawa (MechE 1T7), who developed the technology alongside co-inventors Jennifer Rovt (MechE 1T7) and Katie Gwozdecky (MechE 1T7). To solve this everyday problem, they set out to design a product that would, “overhaul the current standards for comfort and style.”
The team’s mentor, Hadi Aladdin (ECE 1T2), co-founder and CEO of Coursepeer, was very impressed by the group. “I see in these three smart ladies the ingredients of being extremely successful together.”
Northern Spark’s designers also won $500 at a Hatchery accelerator weekend earlier this year.
Dabble It
Maxim Antipin (ECE 1T6), Amir Motahari (Biology 2016) & Victor Chen (MIS 1T5)
amrsgram via Instagram).
“Express your creativity with Dabble It – where your style speaks for itself.”
This is the tagline and promise of Dabble It, a new social media platform designed by Maxim Antipin (ECE 1T6), Amir Motahari (Biology 2016) and Victor Chen (MIS 2015) where users can annotate pictures, such as details of their outfit and where their friends can purchase it. Other users can “dabble it,” or request more information on the image.
The product’s current target is young fashionistas, but ultimately the goal of the product is to expand the way users interact with all images by adding new layers of meaning and communication.
Dabble It’s mentor, Chris Ouslis (EngSci 8T5, ElecE MASc 8T8), saw “great potential in their concept. Dabble It is a way of changing how we interact, using pictures on social media and in e-commerce.”
With the guidance of experienced mentors and peers, students are working towards the creation of their start-ups throughout the summer. They’ll present their final pitch at a Hatchery Demo Day this September, competing for two Lacavera prizes of $20,000 each.
With such rapid increases in enrolment, the Entrepreneurship Hatchery looks forward to having dedicated space in the new Centre for Engineering Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CEIE). Read more about the CEIE.