UNB Scientist Gets Federal Funding for Flexible Laminate to Power Gadgets
A researcher at the University of New Brunswick has received $150,000 in funding from the federal government to further develop a flexible laminate that can provide power to a wide range of electronic devices.
For the last three years, Dr. Anna Ignaszak, an associate professor of chemistry at UNB, has been working to develop the rechargeable coating designed to deliver long-lasting power to small devices such as smart watches and to offset demands that gadgets make on planes and cars.
“For instance, on an aircraft where there are screens for each passenger, the back of each screen could be coated with this laminate, providing power while lowering the overall load on the aircraft’s power system,” said Ignaszak in a release.
Her research is one of more than 220 projects across the country to receive funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation.
On Tuesday, Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan announced the investment of more than $52 million in infrastructure projects at 51 universities across Canada through the John R. Evans Leaders Fund.
Funding will allow Ignaszak to purchase specialized equipment for her lab at UNB. The laminate, now undergoing testing, is different from other flexible materials designed to deliver power in that it is stretchable.
“It can be crafted to different sizes and shapes to adjust to the device easily,” said Ignaszak. “The thicker it is, the more energy it can store.”
Ignaszak said she’s drawn is drawn to research on power systems as part of the global drive for zero-emission technologies. This kind of innovation, for instance, could allow devices in electric or hybrid cars to run without drawing from the vehicle batteries, improving the performance of the vehicle.
“This is part of the global, clean energy idea,” she said.