Mining & Materials Engineering 2021
MIME 001: Upconversion nanoparticles for on-demand drug delivery
Professor Marta Cerrutimarta.cerruti [at] mcgill.ca |
Research AreaBiomaterials |
DescriptionIn this project you will learn about on-demand drug delivery using upconversion nanoparticles and light. Tasks per studentLoad nanoparticles with drug; characterize them; characterize release.
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Deliverables per studentLiterature review, biweekly presentations, one or two group meeting presentations, final project report and poster. |
Number of positions1 Academic LevelNo preference |
MIME 002: Engineering three dimensional graphene oxide structures - CANCELLED
MIME 003: An Investigation into the Mechanical Properties of Foam Backfill
Professor Ferri Hassaniferri.hassani [at] mcgill.ca |
Research AreaMine Backfill and Rock Mechanics |
DescriptionThe practice of filling the void created by underground mining activities with waste materials (tailings with additives) is termed mine backfilling and is generally an integral part of the underground mining process. Mine backfill is mainly used to increase ore extraction and safety of underground mines by local ground stabilization as well as overall ground stabilization of the whole mine. Furthermore to reduce the environmental l impact of mining by reducing the volume of deposited waste materials on the surface Backfill mostly comprises tailings (waste), water, and binders—usually Portland cement (PC) and/or its derivatives. To remain competitive in the demand/supply sensitive commodity market of minerals ore, the mining industry requires to use new and novel ideas to optimize every aspect of its operations and contribute further to environmentally friendly and sustainable mining operations. The initial idea of this research project was originated in response to the current operational difficulties in some of the mining operations. For this reason, new mine backfill materials need to be developed. Foam backfill is a new mine backfill material that has some unique properties such as low density, low yield stress, high workability, and flowability. The first objective of this project is to develop a new reinforced foam fill by evaluating the addition of different fiber materials. In order to reach the objectives based on the literature review, and design experiment, a series of testing programs will be conducted at the Geomechanics laboratory of McGill University. Tasks per studentStudents are mainly working in the Geomechanics Laboratory lab to prepare the mine backfill samples and conducted various tests e.g. UCS, Brazilian Tensile Strength Test, Particle size distribution, Laser analysis, Sound velocity measurements, and thermal properties measurement
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Deliverables per studentStudents will learn how to learn to conduct various tests including UCS test, Brazilian Tensile Strength Test, Particle size distribution, Laser analysis, Sound velocity measurements, and thermal properties measurement. Students will also learn how to optimise mine bakfill. |
Number of positions2 Academic LevelYear 2 |
MIME 004: Inorganic-organic hybrid biomaterials
Professor Showan Nazhatshowan.nazhat [at] mcgill.ca |
Research AreaBiomaterials |
DescriptionBioactive glasses have demonstrated great potential in the regeneration of both mineralized and non mineralized tissues. This project will investigate the effect of bioactive glass particle incorporation on collagen gels. Bioactive glass particles of different chemistries will be incorporated into collagen hydrogels at various compositions and assessed in terms of their structural and mechanical properties as a function of ageing in various physiological mimicking aqueous environments, in vitro. Tasks per studentStudy the structure and mechanical properties of collagen gels as a function of bioactive glass incorporation as a function of ageing.
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Deliverables per studentStudy the structure and mechanical properties of collagen gels as a function of bioactive glass incorporation as a function of ageing. |
Number of positions1 Academic LevelYear 3 |
MIME 005: Thermodynamic study of sodium and lithium intercalation in defective graphitic carbon materials for sodium-ion battery design
Professor Philippe Ouzilleauphilippe.ouzilleau [at] mcgill.ca |
Research AreaHigh-temperature materials processing, thermodynamics, advanced carbon materials |
DescriptionThe design and engineering of next-generation battery systems is the best strategy to solve the CO2 environmental energy crisis of the coming decades. So far, lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) have dominated the discussion on what electrochemical environment should these systems be based on to meet the growing exponential demand for energy storage. However, projections on expected lithium consumption for electric vehicles and energy storage devices for renewables are already raising questions as to whether our current lithium supply chain can sustain the massive demand for this metal in the years to come. For this reason, alternatives to lithium are currently being studied. Of all replacements, sodium is a promising alternative metal to replace lithium in medium to large scale energy storage applications due to its high availability and low cost. Indeed, the cost effectiveness of sodium-ion batteries (SiBs) makes theses devices ideal for large-scale energy storage of renewable energy power grids. So far, graphitic carbon materials have been the only anode material to lead to the successful commercialisation of LiBs due to its low cost, high reliability and competitive energy density. For this reason, extensive research efforts have been deployed to replicate the success story of graphite in SiBs. However, as of today, it is yet unclear what type of carbon material may lead to a viable SiB electrochemical performance and the fundamental mechanism at the source of this performance. The present work will study the fundamental thermodynamic reasons to explain why some carbons yields functional SiBs and why others fail at this task. Tasks per student-Review the existing literature on the thermodynamics of lithium intercalation in defective graphitic materials -Review the existing literature on the thermodynamics of sodium intercalation in defective graphitic materials -Calculate the formation energy of sodium-carbon complexes in pristine and defective graphitic structures -Calculate the formation energy of lithium-carbon complexes in pristine and defective graphitic structures
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Deliverables per student-Literature review -Python script to generate defective graphitic structures -Molecular dynamics validation database -Final report |
Number of positions1 Academic LevelYear 3 |
MIME 006: Simulation of Electrochemical Energy Devices
Professor Kirk Bevankirk.bevan [at] mcgill.ca |
Research AreaThe Bevan Research Group explores nanoscale materials and devices, to develop next-generation energy, computing, and sensing technologies. This is accomplished through the application and development of “technology computer aided design” (TCAD) methods. The ultimate goal of this research is to drive the design and discovery of new technologies through “electronic design automation” (EDA). Group members research nanoscale materials and devices through advanced simulation methods. This is rooted in the exploration of materials from the “bottom-up”, whereby material properties are tailored through atomic-scale and nano-scale modeling methods. Research is often conducted in close collaboration with experimental groups. |
DescriptionAn undergraduate student is sought to carry out quantum mechanical modeling research on designing next-generation energy materials. The project will encompass the modeling of electron conduction and transfer phenomena via state-of-the-art computational physics/chemistry device modeling methods. The goal of this research is to devise new methods for improving the conduction properties of energy and electronic materials, including interfacial electron transfer phenomena. This project tackles applications relating to photocatalytic and electrocatalytic metal oxides for fuel production and carbon capture. The catalytic operation of such metal oxides is dominated by electron localization and delocalization phenomena, which is essential to their operational efficiency in the aforementioned applications. By utilizing and developing simulation tools on electron conduction/transfer, the intern will gain experience in understanding how fundamental processes determine the overall high-level operational limitations of new energy technologies. This research process is based on the famed "Bell Labs Model", whereby a key scientific problem is tackled/solved with the aim of enabling a new important technology (or suite thereof). In this project, the key fundamental problem is device operation in photocatalytic cells. The intern will work under the close training guidance of a senior doctoral student, as well as the faculty member, and gain expertise in device modeling, physics/chemistry, materials science, and high performance computing. Tasks per studentSimulating the device properties of photocatalytic cells.
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Deliverables per studentConducting device calculations, simulations, and participating in the development of new simulation techniques. |
Number of positions1 Academic LevelNo preference |