Each year, WIN sponsors the Waterloo-Wellington Science & Engineering Fair (WWSEF) for $1000 to support the organization and provide prizes for outstanding projects. This year, Anna Chen, a Grade 11 student from Laurel Heights Secondary School in Waterloo, won the Merit Award at the 2024 WWSEF for her project titled “Graphene Quantum Dots for Dendrite-Free Zinc-ion Batteries.”
In her project, she developed graphene quantum dots (GQD) as a coating for the anodes of zinc-ion batteries (ZIBs) to prevent dendrite formation. ZIBs are safer and less expensive than traditional lithium-ion batteries. However, the formation of dendrites (projections of metal in the shape of needles) on the anode surface can cause battery failure. Anna produced GQDs to coat the anode surface to prevent the dendrite from growing. She assembled ZIBs using her GQDs as well as regular (for comparison purposes) and evaluated their performances.
Anna was able to see the difference in the zinc anodes after coating them with GQDs. With the support of her mentor, Qianyi Ma, and Professor Michael Fowler in the Department of Chemical Engineering at UWaterloo, she was able to take scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the surfaces at UWaterloo, where no dendrites were seen on the GQD-coated zinc anode. Her evaluations also showed that the GQDs improved both the battery capacity and the life cycle retention.
When asked what interested her in this project, Anna said that she has been interested in renewable energy and environmental research because of her concern for the impacts of climate change on the environment. She was looking for a way to improve energy storage technologies to make them more sustainable and efficient.
“This project was a way for me to combine my passion for environmental sustainability with my interest in energy storage, and learn so much during the process,” she said. Anna’s project is aligned with United Nations Sustainable Energy Goals #7 Clean and Affordable Energy, #9 Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure, #12 Responsible Consumption and Production, and #13 Climate Action. After graduating from Laurel Heights, Anna plans to pursue post-secondary education in Engineering and continue her research in sustainable energy technologies to contribute to a more sustainable future.
The Merit Award allows Anna to compete in the Canada Wide Science Fair (CWSF) in Ottawa on 31st May 2024 with students from across Canada. Her project will allow her to compete for the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology Award in the Senior Division, valued at $1000, where WIN invites the winner to the Annual Research Leaders Gala in Fall 2024 to present their project along with the Nanofellowship winners.
WIN Executive Director, Sushanta Mitra, is passionate about supporting students in STEM and helping open pathways to continued learning. “WIN recognizes the importance of encouraging young students such as Anna to follow their curiosity and passions and to help them along in their journey. This is not only for a career path but also to encourage them to keep asking the big questions and allow them the opportunity to find solutions,” said Dr. Mitra.
Many congratulations to Anna on her WWSEF Award of Merit, and we look forward to seeing the outcome of the CWSF. Best of luck, Anna!
