On January 12th 2022, Queen’s University announced that the federal government has committed $24 million through the New Frontiers in Research Funding Transformation Stream to Queen’s University-led research poised to extend the lifespan of metals using unique molecular coatings that could save billions of dollars on maintenance across a number of sectors, including aerospace, automotive, cancer therapy, consumer electronics and infrastructure. The work could position Canada at the forefront of the barrier coatings industry, which has a national economic impact of $31 billion per year, and currently employs 211,000 people across the country.
In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Cathleen Crudden, Organic, Organometallic and Materials Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Queen’s University, Canada Research Chair in Metal Organic Chemistry and the lead researcher on this New Frontiers project. From Dr. Crudden, we learn more about the problems and potential solutions she and her team have identified in preserving the longevity of metals, the importance of cross-disciplinary collaboration in undertaking research on this project, and the anticipated impacts for both industry and the research field.