Industrial implications
In addition to positive environmental considerations, Villanueva’s cost-effective methods could spell big net gains for industrial actors.
“This film approach means there’s no need for extra extraction or purification steps, unlike conventional precious-metal-containing methods,” he says. “We are just using elements that are already earth-abundant.”
He adds that industries that could benefit from this technology include agriculture and pharmaceuticals.
“There are clear benefits to those working in field production. For the pharmaceutical industry, this is of particular interest as it allows for a cheaper, easier way to create drugs.”
Standout work from a young lab
Part of what makes Villanueva’s research so impressive is that the Solar Energy Conversion Group lab was only established in 2018. This is its first major project to be completed.
“It makes me and my colleagues feel really proud as a Concordia research group, but it was even more rewarding taking into account that our lab is not even two years old,” Villanueva says.
A number of other stakeholders also played a role in the project’s achievement.
“This highlights a successful collaboration within our department and the Centre for NanoScience Research, between our group and the Advanced Materials Lab, who are world leaders in carbon dot research,” Majewski notes.
“The work also showcases the high calibre and global scale of the research being conducted at Concordia that is enabled by the university’s continued commitment to sustainability and tight-knit scientific community.”
A passion for energy and the environment
Rafik Naccache, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, supervised Villanueva’s undergraduate honours project. He is not surprised his former student has continued to combine his love of science with a strong interest in sustainability.
“Francisco was always interested in working with nanomaterials but was also passionate about energy and the environment.”
As an undergraduate, Villanueva’s work with Naccache on detecting heavy metals in water earned him a top author spot in Environmental Science: Nano, a leading journal in the field of environmental research.
“Think about the amount of sunlight and energy that hits the earth every day,” says Naccache. “If we can harvest just some of this energy, we can make groundbreaking advancements.”
What’s next?
Villanueva plans to continue his work on more projects using inexpensive materials to absorb and store light.
“I am now using kesterite nanocrystals — a copper sulfide-based mineral — to absorb infrared light, using LEDs that simulate the light of the sun.”
As research in the field advances, Villanueva’s work may only be the beginning of a much bigger discussion about global energy conservation.
“I am very proud of this research, and I am confident the Solar Energy Conversion Group at Concordia will keep attracting interest in the years to come.”
Read the cited paper: “Carbon Dot-Sensitized Photoanodes for Visible Light-Driven Organic Transformations.”