Canada Research Chair in Computational Materials Design for Energy and Environmental Applications

Canada has an ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% to 45% below 2005 levels by 2030. Achieving this goal involves transforming energy and industrial processes to prevent new carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and eliminate historical emissions. As Canada Research Chair in Computational Materials Design for Energy and Environmental Applications, Professor Kulbir Ghuman is designing efficient and affordable energy materials by manipulating defects in cost-effective materials.

Scaling these materials for commercial use is challenging due to their inefficiencies and sensitivity to synthesis conditions. To address these challenges, Ghuman and her research team are exploring the fundamental properties of low-cost materials essential for reducing, removing and reusing CO2. They are focusing on materials for technologies such as sustainable ammonia production, solid oxide fuel cells, and direct air capture of CO2, as well as sustainable hydrogen production and photonic devices. By advancing these sustainable technologies, their research will support Canada’s efforts to meet its emissions reduction targets.

Chairholder

Kulbir Ghuman, Associate Professor

Background

Canada’s Carbon Management Strategy Report (Dec 2023) sets an ambitious target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40-45% below 2005 levels by 2030. Achieving this goal involves both transforming energy and industrial processes to prevent new CO2 emissions and eliminate historical CO2. Prof. Kulbir Ghuman’s first term as Canada Research Chair focused on manipulating defects in cost-effective materials, showing that controlled material disorder can enhance the efficiency of materials required for sustainable catalysis and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) applications. 

Despite progress made in the previous term, scaling these materials for commercial use is challenging due to their inefficiencies and sensitivity to synthesis conditions. Prof. Ghuman’s proposed research program addresses these challenges by further exploring the fundamental properties of materials essential for CO2 reduction, removal, or reuse, emphasizing economic feasibility. The new program will involve experimentalists and industry partners to advance cost-effective materials for five key technologies, with a primary focus on (a) sustainable NH3 production, (b) SOFCs, and (c) direct air capture of CO2, while also supporting the research to achieve materials targets for (d) sustainable H2 production, and (e) photonic devices. The program will integrate modern computational techniques, including Machine Learning and High-Throughput Calculations, with state-of-the-art computational material science tools such as Density Functional Theory, to accelerate the materials innovation.