Paul Ragogna, assistant professor of Inorganic Chemistry at The University of Western Ontario, has been named the 2009 Petro-Canada Young Innovator, an award promoting outstanding research by new faculty.
Ragogna’s research interests surround synthesizing fundamentally interesting and new molecules containing main group or transition metal elements. With the identification of new structure, bonding and reactivity, Ragogna aims to provide a better understanding of the periodic table and offer new opportunities to utilize his observations in practical applications.
His research into highly fluorinated ionic liquid polymers and new innovations in superhydrophobic (water hating) surfaces coatings, is essential to many industries and has a direct impact on a large number of our everyday consumer products.
From non-stick surfaces (cookware) and stain repellent clothing to all manner of electronic devices, resilient superhydrophobic materials are critical to their day-to-day function.
However, there are significant drawbacks to the current superhydrophobic technologies.
There are the limitations to wide spread use of organic light emitting diode displays (OLED) within the public sector, like billboards for example, or green energy devices such as third generation solar cells.
This Petro-Canada award will aid Ragogna’s investigations in addressing these limitations by generating new superhydrophobic coatings, based on ionic liquid technologies. The ultimate aim of this work is to develop a new paradigm in water barrier coatings and an unprecedented application of ionic liquid materials.
Research Western recognizes the achievements of outstanding new faculty through the Petro-Canada Young Innovator Award, which was established in 2003.
Awards are granted to those whose work is particularly innovative, impacts positively on the learning environment in the department in which they study, and it has the potential to be of significance to society at large. The program is intended to help attract and retain bright young minds at Canadian universities and institutes and to help young researchers launch their scholarly careers and enable them to carry their research forward.