About

The UMR in materials and technologies for energy transition brings together professors, researchers, and students from INRS and UQTR who are developing innovative solutions in energy storage, green fuels, and industrial decarbonization. 

For our society to successfully transition to new sources of energy and reduce the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions responsible for climate change, changes will be required in energy production and use, transportation modes, and industrial processes. 

UMR members work on interdisciplinary topics, combining chemistry, physics, and engineering to develop advanced materials and environmentally friendly technologies.

Areas of expertise

Battery materials and technologies

  • Emerging battery technologies (all-solid-state lithium, aluminum-air, metal-ion, etc.)  
  • Development of active cathode materials for Li-ion batteries 
  • Development of electrolytes from natural fibers or inorganic materials 
  • Ab Initio simulation for materials discovery 
  • Advanced characterization of materials and simulation of technologies 

Production, conversion, and use of hydrogen or green fuels

  • Synthesis of clean fuels from solar energy (artificial photosynthesis)
  • Development of proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysers and fuel cells
  • Optimization of solid oxide cells (SOFC/SOEC)
  • Demonstration of hydrogen production and conversion technologies (PEM, SOFC/SOEC, etc.)

Decarbonization of industrial processes and integration of green materials

Recycling of batteries and critical minerals

Optimization of the electrolysis process for metal production (Al, Li, etc.)

Upcycling of industrial waste (circular economy)

Development of bioprocesses for the production or use of biofuels

Mission

Our mission is to combine the strengths of INRS and UQTR in materials and technologies through the creation of an energy transition center of excellence. UMR contributes to decarbonization by identifying practical solutions to urgent energy and environmental challenges. It spurs energy transition research and is at the forefront of academic life at UQTR. INRS-UQTR UMR works in tandem with numerous industrial players, research centers, universities, and college technology transfer centers (CCTTs). Our research involves academic institutions in Quebec, across Canada, and internationally, as well as local public and private practitioners.

Training

Les professeur.e.s-chercheur.e.s de l’UMR enseignent à des étudiant.e.s et des stagiaires inscrits dans les programmes de l’INRS ou de l’UQTR. Voici les principaux programmes.

INRS

UQTR

Cours

Doctorate in Energy and Materials Sciences

Master’s in Energy and Materials Science

Doctorate in Earth Sciences

Master’s in Earth Sciences

 

Doctorate in Energy and Materials Sciences 

Master’s in Energy and Materials Sciences

UMR researchers teach graduate and postgraduate courses in the fields of energy, materials, and critical minerals. 

Members and researchers

François Allard (INRS)

A professor of applied electrochemistry and multiphysics modeling, François is known for his expertise in materials and technologies research with regard to energy storage (metal electrode or solid electrolyte batteries) and high-temperature electrochemistry (hydrogen and metal electrolysis). His current research focuses on all-solid-state lithium batteries and on electrochemical and thermal models to simulate energy storage and conversion technologies and electrolysis cells. He is also researching new metallic and ceramic materials to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the aluminum industry and for emerging hydrogen fuel cell and lithium technologies. 

Web page: https://inrs.ca/en/research/professors/francois-allard/  

Karin Kleiner (INRS)

An associate professor specializing in new energy materials at the Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications research center of the Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), Karin characterizes and develops new materials for sustainable energy storage and conversion. To elucidate the mechanisms of aging, she uses a wide range of ex situ and in situ/operando diagnostics, such as powder diffraction and spectroscopy. Her areas of expertise include the synthesis and characterization of high-energy cathode materials, cobalt-free and iron-based cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries, direct and hydrometallurgical recycling of cathode materials towards a low-carbon circular economy, and soft operando, in situ, and ex situ X-ray electrochemical absorption spectroscopy, diffraction, and mass spectrometry. 

Web page FR: https://inrs.ca/la-recherche/professeurs/karin-kleiner/  

Web page EN: https://inrs.ca/en/la-recherche/professeurs/karin-kleiner/  

Publications: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=F04Fl_YAAAAJ&hl=en 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karin-kleiner-30882b235/ 

Gabriel Antonius (UQTR)

A professor of atomic and molecular scale numerical simulations, Gabriel and his research group perform theoretical calculations to guide the discovery of new materials for energy applications. He focuses in particular on photocatalytic systems for hydrogen production, materials for hydrogen storage, and electrode materials for battery, supercapacitor, and fuel cell applications. His research methods employ ab initio calculations, which provide a microscopic description of matter at the atomic and electronic scale. 

Web page: www.uqtr.ca/PagePerso/Gabriel.Antonius 

Publications: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=rjMODyUAAAAJ&hl=fr 

Mihaela Cibian (UQTR)

A professor specializing in inorganic coordination chemistry and molecular systems and their characterization, Mihaela contributes her expertise by developing new compounds/materials for solar energy conversion and artificial photosynthesis applied to solar fuels. Her research activities focus on molecular and hybrid photocatalytic systems for carbon dioxide (CO2) reduction, as well as hydrogen (H2) production, the recovery/recycling of MCS using green methods, and the development of compounds for applications in optoelectronic devices. 

Web page: https://oraprdnt.uqtr.uquebec.ca/portail/gscw045a.afficher_detail_form_reponse? owa_no_site=6622&owa_bottin=&owa_no_fiche=16&owa_no_form_reponse=594366&owa_apercu=N&owa_imprimable=N&owa_brouillon=N&owa_fenetre_surgissante=N&owa_lettre=%25&owa_no_page=1 

Publications: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=iaiFt0AAAAAJ&hl=en 

Samaneh Shahgaldi (UQTR)

Samaneh Shahgaldi is an associate professor at the Université du Québec, the University of Waterloo, and the University of Victoria. She holds a Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers. An award-winning researcher, she is a member of the editorial board of the International Journal of Green Energy. She was also a principal researcher at Cummins/Hydrogenic, where she worked on various fuel cell and water electrolyzer projects. She has published over 70 articles and has been cited over 2,900 times. Her team, part of the Shahgaldi research group, is currently working on the development of components for various electrochemical devices. 

Web page: https://shahgaldiresearchgroup.ca/ 

Publications: https://scholar.google.ca/citations?user=TMNBvnkAAAAJ&hl=en 

Partners

Partial list of partners:

Rio Tinto, Cummins, Accelera, Niobay, NMG, Arkema, Nuvolt, Intlvac Thin Film,  Ariane Phosphate Hydro-Québec, CNRC, Institut du véhicule innovant (IVI), Innofibre, Centre de métallurgie du Québec (CMQ), Centre National en Électrochimie et en Technologies Environnementales (CNETE) 

Projects

Title: Numerical studies of new materials and emerging technologies for electric vehicle batteries

Short summary: The scientific project “Numerical studies of new materials and emerging technologies for electric vehicle batteries” focuses on the research and development of next-generation batteries to revolutionize the electric vehicle sector. This project involves international internships at three renowned institutions—Université Paris-Saclay in France together with Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) and Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) in Québec—allowing researchers to collaborate on a global scale.

Funding: FRQ Samuel-De Champlain Program

Title: Platform on transportation electrification and component development (batteries, fuel cells, thermal systems, etc.)

Short summary: An inter-order integrated research, innovation, and training unit, (CIRIF) combines the strengths of INRS, UQTR, the Institut du véhicule innovant (IVI) and the Centre national en électrochimie et en technologies environnementales (CNETE) in the development of battery technology, the development and characterization of cathode materials, and the optimization of battery management systems and hydrogen fuel cells. This five-year project focuses on training and research in this sector. Funding: Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur (MES)

Title: Synthesis of cathode materials for Li-ion batteries

Short summary: A series of research projects is dedicated to the development of advanced cathode materials for Li-ion batteries, materials metrology for energy, and battery recycling. The team is designing new cathode material formulations and evaluating them in Li-ion cells under laboratory conditions. In addition, innovative approaches are being developed to ensure sustainable recycling of end-of-life batteries. Particular attention is also being paid to the detailed characterization of materials in order to better understand their properties and optimize their performance in energy applications. Funding: NSERC

Title: Compounds, systems, and methods for intelligent research in artificial photosynthesis

Short summary: Developing artificial devices operating on the same principles as natural photosynthesis is thought to be a viable solution to the energy and environmental problems facing our society. Artificial photosynthesis (AP) is defined here in the broad sense of converting solar energy into chemical energy stored in chemical bonds (e.g., production of hydrogen—as a green fuel—from water; production of value-added chemicals from carbon dioxide (CO2) and/or nitrogen (N2) and/or water) using light, light-absorbing compounds (photosensitizers), and catalysts. The objective is to advance knowledge of AS compounds, components, systems, and methods for the development of efficient systems. Funding: NSERC

Title: Production and processing of light metals for energy storage

Short summary: Li-ion batteries are the leading energy storage solution for electric vehicles, but they face limitations such as the limited capacity of the anode and the flammability of the liquid electrolyte. A promising technology is all-solid-state batteries, which incorporates a safer solid electrolyte and a lithium (Li)-based metal electrode that offers 10 times the energy density of graphite. However, the technology faces fundamental challenges that limit its use. These include the cost and availability of pure Li, slow charging speeds, and degradation of the Li metal anode. This program includes the production and processing of Li metal through to its use in batteries. Funding: NSERC

Title: Optimization of compound synthesis for energy-related applications using microwave activation

Short summary: From the perspective of a sustainable energy future, innovation in the development of compounds for optoelectronic and energy conversion applications is paramount. Compounds for applications related to the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy will be synthesized by microwave activation and characterized by various techniques (NMR, IR, UV-vis spectroscopy, and luminescence spectroscopy; mass spectrometry). The syntheses will be optimized. The synthesized compounds will then be used in research projects related to solar energy conversion. Funding: NSERC, Mitacs Globalink, UQTR

Contact

umr@inrs.ca
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Joint Research Units
Joint Research Units