Research summary
Renewable energy systems and sustainability initiatives often operate in harsh environments that cause extreme friction and wear. Tribology—the study of friction, wear and lubrication—is key to addressing these challenges. As Canada Research Chair in Surface Engineering for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies, Dr. Sima Alidokht aims to develop new advanced materials that can withstand such extreme conditions.
She and her research team are using machine learning to design a new class of high-temperature alloys known as refractory multi-principal element alloys (R-MPEAs). Their research focuses on high-throughput manufacturing and testing of R-MPEA thin films, including oxygen-doped versions, as well as R-MPEA–based metal matrix composite coatings. They are also building detailed wear mechanism maps to better understand and predict how materials will perform. Ultimately, their research will support the development of more reliable and efficient renewable energy systems and sustainable technologies.