Getting a charge out of sustainability

New assistant professor brings expertise in solar cell and battery technology to UAlberta.

Andrew Lyle - 26 October 2018

Lingzi Sang's academic career has spanned the globe; now, she's joined the University of Alberta's Department of Chemistry with a specialization in the technology that drives energy conversion and storage systems, including solar cells and batteries.

With research experience as an undergraduate research assistant at Xiamen University in China, then as a graduate research assistant at the University of Arizona, Sang completed her PhD in interface chemistry and energy science in 2014. After three years as a postdoctoral associate at the University of Illinois, Sang is bringing her passion for research into sustainable technology and teaching as an assistant professor at UAlberta.


What brought you to the University of Alberta?

I am an analytical chemist by training: I adapt methods of measurement to answer emerging questions about materials and devices for future energy solutions. The Department of Chemistry at UAlberta offers a world-class analytical training program. As an educator, I can't wait to be a part of it. As a researcher, I envision that my interdisciplinary research program will thrive in the diverse and collaborative research environment that UAlberta offers.

Tell us about your research program.

My group aims to understand interfacial molecular processes of energy conversion and storage systems, such as solar cells and batteries.

Interfaces are among the most active components in batteries and solar cells. In these energy devices, interfacial evolutions play a key role in device performance and lifetime. My research group combines electrochemistry and analytical spectroscopy with a focus on tackling molecular-level details at these critical interfaces, especially during device operation. This underpins some essential questions regarding the next-generation energy devices that both the energy research community and the general public are most excited about. For example: what's the ideal choice of materials? How do we improve device fabrication strategies? This understanding will empower future energy solutions and help satisfy the pressing energy needs of our society.

What inspired you to enter this field?

My training path can be divided into three distinct phases. In college, I was impressed by the emerging environmental issues I learned about while analyzing water pollution from fossil fuel combustion. In graduate school, I investigated photovoltaics as an alternative energy solution. As a postdoctoral researcher, I was concerned about strategies to empower energy storage systems.

Now as an independent researcher, I'm grateful to have a broader vision of environmental and energy research. Some unique measurement approaches that I learned and further developed over the years are now ready to be applied to answering these critical energy-related questions.

Tell us about your teaching.

I will be teaching an instrumental analysis course for junior and senior undergraduate students, and electrochemistry for graduate students in the winter term.

I firmly believe that teaching is a critical part of research. I look forward to seeing younger generations develop in my class, dedicate themselves to chemistry-related educational or industrial opportunities, and eventually play a part in building a sustainable society.