Chairholders

Profile

Mark Obrovac

Department of Chemistry
Dalhousie University

Chair title

NSERC Industrial Research Chair in Metal-Ion Batteries for EV Power Sources

Chair program

Industrial Research Chairs program

Role

Associate Chairholder since 2010

Summary

Advanced batteries are crucial for the development of new green technologies. Electrified vehicles require batteries that are inexpensive, safe, have a long lifetime and store a large amount of energy per unit volume. Electricity grids and renewable energies important to Canada's future energy development—such as wind, tidal and solar power—require inexpensive, safe, long-life batteries for load levelling during periods of high/low energy generation or use. Current battery technologies do not meet all the requirements needed for widespread implementation of these technologies.

The goal of this research program is to develop new practical metal-ion battery chemistries based on low-cost and abundant raw materials, such as sodium and magnesium. Such batteries are expected to have similar energy density to lithium-ion batteries, but at a significantly reduced cost and with less impact to the environment. The new materials and the skilled personnel resulting from this research project are expected to significantly benefit the Canadian energy, automotive, battery and battery materials industries, as well as having beneficial impacts on the environment.

The research program will be lead by Mark Obrovac, who is a world expert in the development of advanced battery materials. Prior to joining Dalhousie University, he was the principal investigator of the Advanced Battery Anode Materials program at 3M USA. His research has resulted in key advancements in battery materials with 16 inventions issued or filed.

Research will be conducted in close collaboration with the industrial partner, 3M Canada—a world supplier and a world leader in the development of advanced battery materials. This collaboration is important to ensure that the battery technologies developed are practical, industrially relevant and are quickly transitioned to industry for production and consumer use.

Partners

• 3M Canada Company
• Dalhousie University

Contact information

Department of Chemistry
Dalhousie University
6274 Coburg Road, Room 212
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3H 4J3

Tel.: 902-494-7745
Fax: 902-494-1310
Email: mark.obrovac@dal.ca

Website:
http://chemistry.dal.ca/Faculty/Professors/Obrovac,_Mark.php