BPI Seminar by Dr. Norgren & Dr. Medronho

TITLE

Green Triboelectric Nanogenerators Research at Mid Sweden University by Dr. Magnus Norgren  

Biopolymer Research at Plant Biotechnology Lab in Portugal by Dr. Bruno Medronho

LOCATION: CHBE #202, 2360 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z

ABOUT THE EVENT

Green Triboelectric Nanogenerators Research at Mid Sweden University by Dr. Magnus Norgren

Cellulose’s electrical insulating properties are well-know and specialty papers are utilized in for instance transformers and other electrical applications. However, the positive effects of being an outspoken dielectric material can have further uses beyond the conventional. As being an easily polarizable material, cellulose has potentially inherent properties that makes it interesting for utilization in a very recent invention: the triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). In TENGs mechanical energy is converted to electrical energy. In short, static electricity created by polarization due to contact-friction mechanisms generates a potential differences. If a circuit is constructed, a current and a power output can be realized. As examples, wasted mechanical energy like small vibrations can be converted into electricity and utilized to power e.g., Internet-of-Things-sensors and even self-sufficient pacemakers. In this talk I will share with you some of our ongoing studies on cellulose-based TENGs and their applications.

Biopolymer Research at Plant Biotechnology Lab in Portugal by Dr. Bruno Medronho

The University of Algarve (UAlg) is a Portuguese public higher education institution located in Faro, capital of the Algarve region. Among the different activities, teaching and research focusing on the different aspects of plant resources within the Mediterranean area are prioritized. In this presentation, we provide a brief tour over UAlg and some of the activities at the Plant Biotechnology Lab, particularly focusing on our recent contributions on biopolymers (e.g., cellulose, lignin, chitosan, fibroin, etc.) dissolution, extraction and valorization. 

AGENDA

• Introduction by Dr. Orlando Rojas
• Keynote Presentation by Dr. Magnus Norgren, Professor @ Mid Sweden University
• Keynote Presentation by Dr. Bruno Medronho, Principal Researcher @ University of Algarve
• Q&A / Discussion

*Light refreshments will be provided

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

DR. MAGNUS NORGREN

Dr. Magnus Norgren started his career working for three years at the Swedish forest industry company SCA. He received his PhD in 2001 from Lund University with a thesis entitled “On the physical chemistry of kraft lignin.” The work contributed to the understanding of the macromolecular and colloidal states of lignin under different conditions. This was the basis for the development of the Lignoboost® process, where Norgren also holds a patent inventorship. In 2004, he was awarded the Alf de Ruvo fellowship for outstanding contributions in the area of lignin’s physical chemistry. After a post doc at the Australian National University, he returned to Mid Sweden University and the FSCN research center, working with fiber chemistry and fiber processing related projects. In 2007 he became docent in chemical engineering, and between 2007 and 2009 Norgren worked at KTH Royal Institute of Technology with Prof. Lars Wågberg. In 2010 he became full professor at Mid Sweden University. During 2012, he was on leave of absence for one year working as CEO in a co-founded startup company. Since 2010 Norgren has been leading the research group in Surface and Colloid Engineering at FSCN, working on fundamentals and applications of biopolymers. Norgren has published more than 80 peer-review journal papers and holds three patents.

DR. BRUNO MEDRONHO

Bruno Medronho (BM) graduated in Chemistry from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, in 2004 and completed his PhD in Macromolecular Chemistry (mixed fellowship), in 2009, in the same institution. During the PhD, BM received 2 years of scientific training in Lund University (Sweden) at the Division of Physical Chemistry (Prof. Ulf Olsson) and has also been an invited guest researcher in Paderborn University (Prof. Claudia Schmidt, Germany) and at Wellington University (Sir Paul Callaghan and Prof. Petrik Galvosas, New Zealand). In 2012, BM became a Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Algarve (UAlg) where, since then, he has been coordinating a new research line, focusing on biopolymer dissolution, regeneration and novel materials. BM is the co-author of 5 book chapters and has published more than 80 papers in international peer review journals (h-index: 34 and ca. 3500 citations, Google scholar). BM was the Guest Editor of the special issue "Cellulose dissolution and regeneration: systems and interactions" published in the Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal, "Cellulose and Renewable Materials" and "Cellulose and Lignin Feedstock for Renewable Material published at Polymer (MDPI) and "Towards Sustainable Solutions: Recent Advances in Polyphenol-Based Biomaterials" published at Molecules (MDPI). BM has ca. 50 oral and poster communications in international conferences and has been invited to be a member in 7 PhD evaluation committees at the Universities of Coimbra and Aveiro (Portugal), Lorraine (France) and Alcalá (Spain). Since 2019, BM is Visiting Professor at the Surface and Colloid Engineering group at FSCN in Mid Sweden University, Sweden. BM is Principal Researcher at the University of Algarve since 2020.