The transition to a sustainable-energy future depends on our ability to store and convert energy more efficiently. Two-dimensional (2D) materials, first isolated from layered crystals such as graphite, have emerged as one of the most exciting developments in modern materials physics. When materials are thinned down to nanometer-sized flakes, their properties can change dramatically. Electrons move differently, surfaces become dominant, and new possibilities for energy technologies emerge. What makes these materials especially exciting is that their properties can be tuned through modifications to their structure, surface chemistry, and interfaces. By controlling how electrons and ions move through these materials, researchers can design systems that store energy more effectively and drive the chemical reactions needed to produce clean hydrogen from water. In this talk, I will explain the physics that makes 2D materials unique, how researchers create and study these nanoflakes, and how their properties can be engineered for clean energy applications. Drawing on examples from my research, I will show how materials such as hexagonal boron nitride and MXenes are being used to address challenges in batteries, supercapacitors, and hydrogen production. By revealing how the structure of matter governs the movement of electrons and ions, physics provides the foundation for designing the materials needed for a low-carbon energy future.
Jasneet Kaur is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics at Brock University and is cross-appointed to the Yousef Haj-Ahmad Department of Engineering. She joined Brock in 2021 following a Mitacs Elevate postdoctoral fellowship at Toronto Metropolitan University, where she worked to develop advanced materials for energy storage and conversion. Prior to this, she held a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Naples, Italy, studying graphene and other two-dimensional (2D) materials. She earned her PhD in Physics from Eternal University, India, where she studied diluted magnetic semiconductors in collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory, and completed her B.Sc. (Honours) and M.Sc. in Physics at the University of Delhi. Dr. Kaur's research focuses on the synthesis, surface engineering, and characterization of nanostructured and 2D materials, as well as polymer composites for clean energy technologies. Her group investigates materials such as hexagonal boron nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides and MXenes to improve ion transport, energy storage, and clean hydrogen production. She also studies self-powered energy harvesting systems and enjoys sharing the excitement of physics with students through teaching, research, and outreach.