Professor Steven Thorpe can create greener electricity.

His research group, which spans design to development, aims to provide small, economic solutions that could potentially supply clean hydrogen to power homes and vehicles using advances in nanomaterials.

Using hydrogen as a primary source of energy would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to the National Hydrogen Association. This is achieved by using renewable energy, such as solar and wind as well as nuclear power to separate hydrogen from water through electrolysis.

Professor Thorpe, based in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, says his research relies heavily on collaboration. “This area requires such a multitude of complementary skill sets that success will only come through collaboration with others.” Professor Thorpe works collaboratively with Professors Don Kirk and John Graydon in Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry as well as Professor Francis Dawson in The Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

To make Professor Thorpe’s research a reality, a hydrogen-fuel firm based in Mississauga called Hydrogenics Corporation, which recently acquired Stuart Energy, purchased the rights to patents held by Professors Thorpe, Kirk and Graydon to develop new materials that reduce the cost of producing hydrogen through electrolysis.

“We are also working with other companies that have needs for novel nanomaterials/amorphous alloys that are also aligned with energy.” says Professor Thorpe. “The hope is that these companies will serve as the vehicles for commercialization of these technologies.”

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