Since 2017, we have awarded over $326,000 in TechAccelR grants to 27 projects involving 61 professors and graduate students (30% female participants) who have also received personalized mentorship along with the funding in order to help them advance their research towards commercialization.
2024
FALL 2024
Cross-Platform AI-Powered Blood Pressure Estimation via Camera: Developing a User-Friendly GUI for Widespread Accessibility
Professor Narges Armanfard from Electrical and Computer Engineering
Executive Summary
We have developed an AI-based technology that accurately estimates blood pressure from video recordings. To explore its commercialization, we plan to create a reliable, user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI). This project will focus on developing a cross-platform GUI that integrates our AI framework, allowing users to estimate their blood pressure using their device's camera or an external camera, ensuring the technology is accessible and easy to use.
Ìę
Acoustic transfer technology for assemblies of micro-LEDs
Professor Changhong Cao and Hongyu Hou, PhD Candidate, both from Mechanical Engineering
Executive Summary
We propose to develop a pick-and-place technology to manipulate small scale objects with the target application in the assembly of ÎŒLED-based displays, whose market is projected to reach $72 billion by 2030, due to their superior brightness, energy efficiency, and long lifespan compared to other LED technologies. With this grant, our goal under the support of TechAccelR is to achieve the pick and place of a 2 by 2 array of sub-millimeter-scale objects.
Fiber scaffold directed stem cell differentiation
Professor Allen Ehrlicher from Bioengineering
Executive Summary
We have recently developed a method of differentiating stem cells into targeted lineages based on micro-patterned adhesive lines on a 2D substrate (Ghagre et al Biophysical Journal 2024). Prior to publishing this work, we reported an ROI which was subsequently pursued as a patent application. In this proposal we would like to advance the methodology to be more suitable for commercial development by extending our line-based differentiation to that of a fibrous 3D scaffold of varied fiber width. This proof of principle development would make the technology more attractive for acquisition by an existing company or by our spinoffÌęcompany.
Engineered clot wound dressings
Professor Jianyu Li from Mechanical Engineering
Executive Summary
Dry socket (alveolar osteitis) is a painful condition affecting millions after tooth extraction, leading to prolonged healing and increased healthcare costs. Primarily impacting young adults, women on contraceptives, smokers, and older adults, current treatments are inadequate. We propose an innovative technology of engineered blood clots that enhance adhesion and healing properties while promoting tissue regeneration. This technology will require further experimental validation and market analysis, as part of the commercialization plan, to be completed in this project.
SPRING 2024
Production of High-Quality Spinel Nanoparticles
Professor Jeffrey Bergthorson, Kartik Mangalvedhe, PhD Candidate, both from Mechanical Engineering
Executive Summary
Spinel nanoparticles play a big role in todayâs world with applications ranging from electronic industry to medical field due to their excellent properties associated with conduction, magnetism, catalysis, etc. (1). The production of high-quality nanoparticle spinel, a compound with the form AB2O4 where A and B are metals and O is oxygen, is an expensive and time-consuming process with current technologies. Furthermore, these processes lead to carbon emissions responsible for the global climate change. We have developed a technology that enables a cheap, quick, and carbon-free production of spinel. Currently, we have developed one type of nanoferrite spinel called Hercynite. Through the support of the grant, we would like to explore other spinels and study their properties for different applications.
A Cost Effective Infectable Lung Organoid for Drug Testing and Toxicological Studies
Professor Luc Mongeau, Dr. Malvika Nagrath, both from Mechanical Engineering, and Alicia Reyes Valenzuela, PhD Candidate, from Biological and Biomedical Engineering
Executive Summary
Lower respiratory tract (LRT) infections are the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and the available antiviral therapies do not effectively combat most of these viral infections. The existing models are inefficient to develop antiviral drugs. We have developed a unique 3D lung organoid (3DLO) model using a novel process that recapitulates complex morphological and biological aspects of the lung in a single dish providing an ideal model for the antiviral drug development. Next proof of principle experiment is to show 3DLOsâ capability to assess antiviral drug screening (ongoing), and that 3DLOs can be cryopreserved. With this grant, we aim to optimize the cryopreservation process. In parallel, we are working on automizing the 3DLO manufacturing using robotic device. Ultimately, automatically fabricated, and cryopreserved 3DLOs will be sold frozen, ready to use âoff the shelfâ, providing a high throughput invention enhancing the drug testing, especially in pandemics and epidemics.
3D Printed Ferroelectric Spinodoid Metamaterials
Professor Agus Sasmito, from Mining and Materials Engineering and Professor Hamid Akbarzadeh, from Bioresource Engineering
Executive Summary
With their intensified sensitivity to mechanical, electrical, and thermal stimuli, ferroelectric materials are widely utilized in sensors, actuators, and energy-harvesting devices. Introducing porosity has been a common method to enhance their sensitivity, while keeping them lightweight. However, existing fabrication techniques often constrain the improvement potential by limiting control over pore topology in ferroelectric materials. In this innovation, we introduce a specialized 3D printing platform capable of creating ferroelectric ceramics with customizable topologies, offering unprecedented design freedom. Moreover, we develop a systematic approach for designing ferroelectric metamaterials, leading to remarkable enhancements in piezoelectric (electromechanical coupling) and pyroelectric (thermoelectric coupling) properties.
Shared Autonomy Framework for Articulated Machines Operating in Field Conditions
Professor Inna Sharf, Ehsan Yousefi, PhD Candidate, both from Mechanical Engineering
Executive Summary
We are developing end-to-end shared autonomy solutions for optimized human-in-the-loop operation of heavy machinery. We achieve this through a safe integration of advanced AI and robotics tools. The key unique features of our shared autonomy framework are: (i) a variable (sliding) level of autonomy which, by design, adjusts to the operator skills and operation needs; (ii) a safe and mutually understandable human-robot cooperation and interaction. Thus, the autonomy is designed for a safe cooperation with the human operator and more broadly, to allow the human to operate the machine jointly with AI. The safety aspect is particularly critical to operation of heavy field machinery, under uncertain environmental and task conditions. Our technology, backed fundamental research and experimentation in the lab, will offer the following advantages: a) optimized decision-making by providing advanced planning solutions; b) increased productivity and lower costs through end-to-end control and less reliance on human operator; c) reduction of accidents, operator mental load and operator training time. As well, the technology will provide access to a wide range of data on the operator and their interaction with the machine. As discussed next, we have conducted preliminary market analysis, explored potential partnership and commercialization routes.
Nanowire-Based Substrate Release Layer for Mass-Transfer of ÎŒLEDs
Professor Songrui Zhao, from Electrical and Computer Engineering
Executive Summary
This project is to establish a technology related to the mass-transfer of micro/nano-scale light emitting diodes (ÎŒLEDs) using a nanowire-based substrate release layer. The success of this project will have a profound impact on semiconductor device industries, e.g., display, flexible electronics, to just name a few.
2023
FALL 2023
A high-throughput microfluidic setup for rapid, automated and multiplexed antibiotic susceptibility testing
Professor Sara Mahshid, Sripadh Guptha Yedire, PhD Candidate, Seyed Imman Isaac Hosseini, PhD Candidate, and Tamer AbdelFatah, PhD Candidate, all from Bioengineering
Executive Summary
As antibiotic-resistant infections continue to rise, they are projected to become the second leading cause of death by 2050. Current antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) methods suffer from prolonged turnaround times, high costs, and labor-intensive processes, often leading to either overprescription or conjectural prescriptions. Consequently, the timely initiation of effective antibiotic treatments is of paramount importance, as each hour of delay increases mortality by 7%, especially in cases of severe sepsis. Here, we propose to develop a multiplex ultra-rapid AST device that reports on effective antibiotic regimes within just 20 minutes without any delay for clinical culture and user involvement. Our technology leverages additive manufacturing to advance multiplexing capacity of microfluidics to 96 parallel tests for measuring minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antibiotics in an all-in-one device. This grant will provide the necessary resources to optimize the design and fabrication of the device and conduct proof-of-concept testing for preclinical validation. We aim to deliver a cost-effective, fast, and user-friendly AST solution, on par with 96-well plates in microbiology labs to reduce over-prescription and contribute to mitigating the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis.
SPRING 2023
Artificial intelligence powered optimization and automation toolkit for atomic-precision molecular-beam epitaxy material synthesis
Professor Jun Song, Mining & Materials Engineering, and Professor Songrui Zhao, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Executive Summary
Molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE) is an advanced technology for high-precision material synthesis, but suffers from being highly cost and time intensive. This invention aims to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) powered automation apparatus to achieve automated, real-time material quality assessment and optimization of growth conditions, to provide drastic productivity/material quality enhancement and cost reduction for MBE growth of thin films, quantum dots and nanostructures. With this grant, we aim to accomplish the first proof of concept with validation, a well-informed go-to-market assessment, and to bring our technology from TRL3 to TRL5 level to prepare us for next stage of innovation.
Simple and portable time-delineated water sampling system
Professor Viviane Yargeau, Chemical Engineering
Executive Summary
There are currently no simple and affordable samplers for time-delineated water sampling on the market. The technology we developed will fill this need for environmental sampling and wastewater surveillance.
Highly Accurate and User-Friendly Contact Angle Analysis
Professor Anne-Marie Kietzig, Damon Aboud, PhD, Michael Wood, PhD, Mohammad Bagher Asadi, PhD and Gianluca Zeppetelli, all from Chemical Engineering
Executive Summary
Contact angle measurements (CAM), which are widely used in industry and academia alike, have the reputation of being a seemingly low cost and simple surface analysis technique owing to rather simple infrastructure requirements. However, literature showcases many examples of wrongly executed analysis and accordingly false conclusions being drawn on surface characteristics. Our novel software eliminates user error by automating key steps such as contact point determination and the identification of advancing and receding contact angles (CAs) and improves measurement accuracy by employing a novel curve fitting method. This grant will be mainly used to cover HQP salary expenses to advance our patent-pending invention from the laboratory to the market
Commercialization of a Universal, Multi-Functional Platform for Covalent and Oriented Antibody Immobilization for Cell Capture
Professor Corinne Hoesli, Hugo Level, PhD Candidate and Marc-Antoine Campeau, Postdoctoral researcher, all from Chemical Engineering
Executive Summary
Strategies to recruit high-potential regenerative cells is one of the pillars for emerging cell-based therapies. When it comes to implantable devices for instance, those cells could promote better healing and reduce the risks of critical implant failure. In the last decade, there has been an increasing academic and industrial effort to create surfaces that could take advantage of such cells, by capturing them directly from the blood flow. To this end, we patented a biofunctional surface treatment that could not only capture cells but also enhance their proliferative properties. Part of our technology relies on antibodies, as they have been largely studied for their specificity and flexibility. However, grafting antibodies is not trivial: getting a proper orientation is key to preserve the antibody target-binding efficiency. Current strategies often rely on random reactive moieties which can drastically hinder their efficiency. The use of larger binding protein fragments which usually provide a better orientation is also problematic for in vivo applications. To solve these issues, our strategy has been to use specific small peptide sequences that specifically anchor at the bottom of the fragment crystallizable (Fc) region of antibodies, ensuring the right orientation for maximum target-binding efficiency. Unfortunately, this approach is currently limited to only one isotype of antibody and relies on weak interaction bonds. The grant will be used to model a library of different peptides and antibody isotypes and explore the possible matches. Subsequent efficiency and stability of those interactions will be studied in vitro, so that we can further optimize the cell-binding capacities of our surface. This project will be of critical help to increase the relevance and readiness level of our invention before moving forward with industrial partners.
2022
PreFab: Prediction and Correction of Fabrication-Process-Induced Structural Variations in Nanophotonic Devices
Professor Odile Liboiron-Ladouceur and Dr. Dusan Gostimirovic, Post-Doctoral Researcher, both from Electrical and Computer Engineering
Executive Summary
The project consists of developing machine learning models of different fabrication facilities. Up to now, the models are based on the fabrication done at Applied NanoTools Inc. (ANT), which is an electron-beam lithography process used for low-volume production. Most commercial silicon photonics prototyping is fabricated in an optical lithography process which allows for more volume from the nature of its parallel patterning process. There are a few places in the world offering such fabrication. For research, my team has fabricated devices through AMF in Singapore, IMEC in Belgium, and IHP in Germany. The project would consist of developing models for AMF through the collaboration of CMC Microsystems. The technology has been validated and is currently at a technology readiness level 5. It requires software development, some product polishing for production and commercialization.
âMultimeterâ of the nano-age: a cost-effective system for multi-physics characterizations of ultrathin structures
, Mechanical Engineering
Executive Summary
As silicon-based electronics have almost reached their physical limitations, the class of ultra-thin structures (i.e., atomically thin two-dimensional materials (2DM)) is one of the most promising alternative building blocks due to their superior physical properties for next-generation electronics (e.g., photodetectors, field-effect transistors, solar cells). The market size of 2DM-based devices is projected to $203 billion by 2028. While exotic lab-scale 2DM electronics have been demonstrated with unprecedented performance, a critical step before they can be transferred to the marketplace is to assure their consistent performance (e.g., mechanical, electrical, etc.), which determines the long-term sustainability of this new generation of electronics. However, it is much more challenging to do quality check of 2DM-based than silicon-based devices because of their ultra-thin and delicate nature (nanometers thick). Our patent-pending technology, a single-chip micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) has significant advantages over the one product currently on the market. With the support from TechAccelR Grant, we will develop additional functionalities to make our system a âmulti-meterâ for ultrathin structures on top of its existing mechanical characterization capability. The commercialization of our development will significantly accelerate the transfer of thin/ultra-thin structure-based applications to the marketplace to support a range of disruptive technologies including augmented reality (AR), autonomous vehicles (AV) and Internet of Things (IoT).
A feasibility study of the effect of high-frequency vibration on mandibular posture through hyoid bone-anchoring
Professor Natalie Reznikov, Bioengineering, Professor Julia Cohen Levy, Orthodontics, Professor Joyce Fung, School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, Dr. Alexei Morozov
Executive Summary
Sedentary lifestyle is a new reality of modern times, and it is harmful to human health in many ways â"sitting is the new smoking." In particular, habitual stooping posture of the neck and the abnormally tucked-in position of the lower jaw lie at the root of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and obstructive sleep apnea. While these conditions are not life-threatening, they are painful, and reduce quality of life in 1 person out of 10. We have designed a non-invasive physiotherapy device for the correction of a habitually poor posture of the mandible to alleviate dental clenching, TMJ disorders and neck pain, and to improve airway patency. By focally applying mechanical vibration to the attachment sites of certain muscles, this oscillating device will equilibrate muscle tone to restore the mandible to its normal, physiological resting position. We propose a preclinical feasibility study to test our patent pending device as an essential step towards clinical trials and commercialization.
On-Chip Chemiluminescence Biosensor for Food Safety
and Dr. Juanjuan Liu, research associate, both from Bioengineering
Executive Summary
Pathogenic contamination of food is one of the major issues for foodborne illness. Hence, food safety inspection and quality control with food pathogen detection is of significance. Commonly used techniques for food pathogen detection include culture-based methods and nucleic acid-based methods such as PCR. These techniques are time-consuming, tedious, and are highly demanding for laboratory consumables and equipment. Our proposal is aimed at the identification and quantitation of food pathogens using our novel chemiluminescence technology.
We anticipate that our approach will overall speed up the cleanliness assessment and increase the uptime for the processing facility or kitchens. Successful validation will lead to a robust tool for food safety inspection and quality control.
Vascularized bioartificial pancreas for the treatment of diabetes
, Chemical Engineering, Jonathan Brassard, PhD candidate, Biological and Biomedical Engineering, Professor Richard Leask, Chemical Engineering, Professor Steven Paraskevas, Surgery
Executive Summary
Insulin injections is the current treatment for diabetes but fails to eliminate the related health risks associated with periods of hypo and hyperglycemia. In the last decades, transplantation of cadaveric islets has shown major glycemic control improvement compared to insulin treatment, drastically ameliorating the life of patients. Islet transplantation, however, is currently limited to a minuscule proportion of patient suffering from diabetes (<1%), for whom the lifelong immunosuppression needed to avoid graft rejection outweighs the health complications linked to their uncontrolled glycemia. We have developed an encapsulation device that can both protect the cells from the immune system and allow the graft to regulate blood glucose through insulin secretion, opening the market to the 100 million people needing insulin worldwide ($30 billion annual market). The TechAccelR Grant will help us validate our device in an ex vivo perfusion system, enabling us to prepare for a future pilot study in large animals.
Optimizing Sequential Decision-Making (A/B Testing)
Professor Daniel Varro, Sebastian Pilarski, PhD candidate, both from Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Slawomir Pilarski (Versyn)
Ìę
Executive Summary
Sequential decision-making such as A/B testing is commonly required across many modern industries. Optimizing such decisions is often at the core of business success. Today, most businesses rely upon time-consuming and suboptimal manual processes. More sophisticated businesses make use of existing optimization solutions such as reinforcement learning multi-armed bandit algorithms. However, A/B-style sequential decision-making may exhibit delayed information response (e.g., a retailer does not sell all products immediately after stocking; there is a time delay between the stocking decision and the products being purchased). Such delays make optimization via manual decision-making extremely labor intensive. They also result in tremendously sub-optimal decisions. Moreover, existing automated solutions provide very poor decisions when decision feedback is delayed. We have developed state-of-the-art multi-armed bandit methodologies for optimizing sequential decision-making in the presence of delay. These methodologies significantly outperform existing solutions. The TechAccelR Grant will enable us to build prototypes of our technology for specific industrial retail business cases. In doing so, it would empower us to shift our focus from academic research to commercialization-focused research and development. Our technology has the power to transform businesses into more competitive, high-efficiency operations by improving required core decision-making.
2021
Additive that Prevents Surface Defects in PVC Films
Professor Milan Maric, Professor Richard Leask, both Chemical Engineering and Professor Jim Nicell, Civil Engineering
Executive Summary
Gas checks are visible fleck-shaped defects that occur on the surface of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) films during industrial calendering. Films containing these surface defects often do not meet minimum product specifications and therefore must be disposed of or recycled, resulting in increased cost and material waste. Currently, gas checks are controlled by keeping film gauge low and through trial-and-error modifications of processing parameters by calender operators. We found that a series of poly(caprolactone) (PCL)âbased compounds with diester linkers and alkyl chain cappers were all effective at preventing the formation of gas checks during calendering, with additive concentrations as low as 8 phr producing films with no gas checks.
High Temperature Te-Based Solder Alloys
Professor Mathieu Brochu and Dr. Sunyong Kwon, postdoctoral fellow, Materials Engineering
Executive Summary
High-temperature solders require solidus temperature at least 270 °C and the liquidus temperature at most 350 °C. Small solidification ranges are preferred to avoid solidification defects. The conventional high-temperature solders mainly comprise of Pb, which include Pb-5Sn, Pb-10Sn, Pb-5Ag, Pb-2Ag-8Sn, etc. Sn-based solder alloys are currently used for lead-free solders; but they suffer from high temperature properties due to their low solidus temperature (<260 °C). Alternatively, Bi-based solder alloys were invented (e.g. Bi-Ag), but their solidus temperature (262 °C) is still considered relatively low. For this reason, Pb-based alloys for HT solder applications have been exempted from the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS), but this exemption will not be permanent. The present invention provides four alloy compositions, whose eutectic temperatures ranging from 300 to 350 °C depending upon compositions. The alloys contain over 50 atomic percent Te, and an effective amount of Ag and Cu, optionally with Sn. Although Te is mildly toxic for humans, it is not hazardous for the environment. As such, Te is not listed in RoHS. Te has been used as an essential element for photovoltaic solar cell and thermoelectric materials. The technological limitation to be addressed is to develop lead-free, high solidus temperature, high service temperature alloys. The main advantage of the invention is the ideal eutectic temperatures (small solidification range) for high-temperature solder applications. In addition, Te is less reactive to oxygen than Bi and Sn, as such, oxidation during soldering can be reduced.
Accelerated Alloy Discovery Through Machine Learning: The KASSANDRA Method
Professor Mihriban O. Pekguleryuz and Dr. Luis Angel Villegas-Armenta, postdoctoral researcher, Materials Engineering
Executive Summary
Designing new materials is crucial to face the ever-increasing engineering challenges of the future. Particularly for metals, the light-alloy design is a process that involves great time and expenses to perfect a proposed material. This is traditionally done by incrementally adding elements to an alloy and testing various heat treatments until the desired properties are obtained, which involves substantial work at each iteration. The KASSANDRA method is a novel solution to design light alloys that relies on artificial intelligence to dramatically accelerate the design process. It is a flexible approach that can be applied to a wide range of challenges: mechanical resistance, corrosion resistance, ductility improvement, cost reduction and more. It has the potential to reduce the development process from years to weeks, reducing costs and giving companies a competitive edge over others traditional approaches.
Specifically, a CMOS imaging sensor is coupled with a sample microfluidic system. Samples swabbed from regions with high fluorescence will be placed on the microfluidic channels/wells on top of the CMOS sensor. Light will be generated during the ATP-mediated chemiluminescence reaction from the samples containing aerobic microorganisms, and the emitted light will be recorded and further analyzed for quantitatitation. We anticipate that a combined fluorescence and chemiluminescence approach will overall speed up the cleanliness assessment and increase the uptime for the processing facility or kitchens. Within the frame of this proposal, we will work on the adaptation and validation of the ATP chemiluminescence detection on a CMOS sensor and evaluate its use in conjunction with the CSI-D fluorescence device. Successful validation of this combined approach will lead to a robust tool for food safety inspection and quality control.
2020
One-Step Cell Isolation and Expansion on Multi-Functional Microcarriers
Professor Corinne Hoesli (Chemical Engineering), Omar Bashth, Masterâs student (Chemical Engineering), and Mohamed Elkhodiry, PhD candidate (Chemical Engineering)
Executive Summary
Emerging cell-based therapies for cancer, diabetes and other diseases have been hailed as the next revolution in medicine. The high cost-of-goods of these therapies is prohibitive for publicly funded health care systems such as Canada. We propose to develop a technology for cell separation and expansion in bioreactors that could reduce costs by reducing the number of steps required during bioprocessing.
Recycling Phosphorus by Upgrading Municipal Biosolids
Professor Sidney Omelon (Mining and Materials Engineering)
Executive Summary
We are approaching peak phosphorus (P). Similar to oil, P-fertilizer is extracted from a non-renewable resource called âphosphate rockâ (PR) that is concentrated in few geographical locations. Due to PR value and future outlook, Europe recently placed PR on its critical materials list. Germany and Switzerland have mandated future P-recovery from municipal wastewater treatment plants. Canada has no operating PR mines, and no P-recovery strategy. The only P-fertilizer production facility in Canada will soon close. We are addressing this challenge of an impending PR, and therefore P-fertilizer availability problem, by simply and inexpensively upgrading municipal biosolids to increase their P-fertilizer value.
2018
Efficient Convolutional-Neural-Network (CNN) Processing System
Professor Zeljko Zilic (Electrical and Computer Engineering-ECE) and Pavel Sinha, PhD candidate (ECE)
Executive Summary
To further develop an efficient computing platform technology in silicon that provides industry best in class performance in throughput, low-power and achievable depth of the deep-learning network in real-time. We have re-defined the computation platform by introducing a highly scalable architecture to accommodate any order deep-learning architecture as desired by the developer.
2017
Physiological Confirmation of Stimulus Reception
Professor Jeremy Cooperstock (ECE) and Pascal Fortin, PhD student (ECE)
Executive Summary
Todayâs electronic handheld devices are incredibly sophisticated, but they all lack the ability to assess if a signal presented to a user was effectively perceived. Using an off-the-shelf wearable skin conductance sensor, this new concept can accurately detect if a stimulus was perceived by a receiver. It operates by measuring the galvanic skin response, characterized by modifications in the skinâs resistance due to activation of the sweat glands. This invention has the potential to drastically modify current mobile communication technologies.
2015
Past Awards to Support Innovation:
Thanks to the generous gift from Fonex Systems Inc. founder Pasquale Di Pierro, BEng'76, MBA'80, with support from Alizeti Microtechnologies Inc. President Louis Viglione, BEng'78, and Meade Willis Inc. President Michael Barski, BEng '68, we have been able to provide three new Innovation Awards of $7,000 each to the following three researchers in Engineering to go towards their projects:
A Sustainable Iron Nanoparticle-Based Technology for Degradation of Toxic Chlorinated Organic Compounds in Water Treatment
Professor Subhasis Ghoshal and Sai C. R. Rajajayavel, PhD student (both from Civil Engineering and Applied Mechanics)
Executive Summary
Need: A non-toxic, more cost-effective water treatment technology to restore groundwater resources polluted by chlorinated solvents.
Solution: A sustainable water treatment process that uses ubiquitous, non-toxic elements such as iron and sulfur to effectively treat a wide range of pollutantsâparticularly persistent, organic pollutants of emerging concern that are used in industrial processes.
Solar Water Splitting Devices
Professor Zetian Mi (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
Executive Summary
Need: Design a hydrogen-producing technology that does not require the use of fossil fuels.
Solution: Produce hydrogen by using water splitting under direct solar irradiation.
Graphene Oxide Headphones: High Definition Sound from Low Dimensional Materials
Professor Thomas Szkopek (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Peter Gaskell, PhD student (Electrical and Computer Engineering), Robert-Eric Gaskell, PhD student (Schulich School of Music) and Jung Wook Hong, PhD student (Schulich School of Music)
Executive Summary
Need: Develop a high-fidelity headphone diaphragm with professional sound without the cost for use in the manufacture of hundreds of millions of over-ear headphones produced annually across the globe.
Solution: Replace currently used carbon based diaphragms with graphene oxide diaphragms prepared at the McGill Faculty of Engineering and tested at the Music Multimedia Room at McGillâs Schulich School of Music.
