DOHA: The Texas A&M University — Qatar welcomed biomedical engineering expert, Dr John D W Madden, as its fourth Distinguished Lecture Series Speaker on Tuesday at the University’s Engineering Building at Education City.
Madden presented a lecture entitled, “Protein–based Solar Cells, Plastic Electronics and other Carbon-based Devices,” which discussed the new and existing science of using molecules and organic materials to build engineering devices. The talk explored three cases: The use of proteins to build solar cells, the use of conducting polymers in low-cost electronics and nano-structured materials in supercapacitors. Madden is an Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada.
The use of organic and nano-structured materials in electrochemical and electronic devices has emerged as a way to reduce cost and increase performance of these devices. They have additional uses in solar cells, supercapacitors, batteries, organic transistors and artificial muscle; all intriguing areas of study and research for engineers. Protein complexes known as reaction centres absorb light and separate charge. These reaction centres (or photosystems, as they are known in plants) are much better than traditional photovoltaics at converting absorbed light into charge and are being used to create photocells. Conducting polymers are organic semiconductors that show promise for use in flexible and printable electronics, a form that would allow the printing of electronics on paper or fabric and which is potentially very low in cost, as well as versatile. Supercapacitors can work with or replace batteries in automotive, grid power and mobile device applications.
“We are privileged to have a young scientist who is pioneering the new science and engineering of using organic material and nano-technology to build new devices and tools that will have significant impact on many aspects of our daily lives. The lecture brings to light practical, but extremely useful applications of nano-technology, and will hopefully stir the interest of our students and young faculty to pursue research and development in this vital futuristic technology.
Some of this research can be started through collaborations under the auspices of Qatar’s funding agencies and interested industries and universities,” said Dr Hussein Al Nuweiri, Program Coordinator for Texas A&M at Qatar’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Program.