Nanotechnology and

Energy

The Little Einsteins

Nanotechnology

• How big is 1nm?

10-9m

Nano affects Energy

• Currently being introduced into o Wind

o Solar

o Hydrogen Storage

o Nuclear

o Batteries

Nanotechnology and Wind

Applications for

nanotechnology and

wind:

• Nanoparticle

bearings

• Thin coatings

• Nanomaterials to

strengthen turbine

Nanotechnology and

Solar

• Windows that act as solar

cells

o Created from organic

solar cells

o 1/1000th thickness of

hair

o Created from plastic

polymers

Image Source: Triple Pundit

Nanosolar • Created from Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS)

• Nanoparticles distributed throughout mixture

• Printed on nanoscale onto aluminum

• One micron thick layer

• Efficiency up to 17.1%

Image Source: Nanosolar

Electricity from Nuclear

Nanotechnology and Nuclear

Nanofluids as coolants

• Fluid film prevents

boiling

• Loss of heat transfer

• Nanoparticles

prevent fluid film

• Aluminum oxide

• 40% efficiency gain

Renewable Energies Necessitate

Storage

• Sources of renewable energy

are intermittent and therefore

require storage

Hydrogen Storage

• University of Crete

• Carbon nanotubes

and graphene

sheets

• High surface area

and porosity

• Allows for efficient

storage of hydrogen

• Doping with lithium

Batteries...

• Cathode- positive

terminal

• Anode- negative

terminal

• Electrolyte-

charged, acidic gel

o Separates

electrodes to

prevent

electrical

shortage

o Allows ions to

flow

Electrical cell. Image source: odec.ca

Stored Energy

Lithium Ion Batteries

• Most effective

rechargeable

battery

o Lithium Metal

CATHODE

o Graphite ANODE

• No "memory"

effect

Nanotechnology in Li-ion Batteries

• Scientists are currently implementing

Carbon Nanotube into the anode's structure. o This will replace traditional graphite anodes and

increase holding capacity of lithium ions

Small, but BIG

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"Designing novel carbon nanostructures for hydrogen storage".www.spie.org.SPIE.

8 March 2009. Web.13 June 2012."

"How Batteries Work." www.howstuffworks.com. Hows stuffworkds. ND. June 13

2012."

"Nanotech batteries for a new energy future". www.sciencedaily.com. Science Daily

LLC. 20 March.2012.Web.13 Jun.2012.

"Nanotechnology:Avoiding electrolyte failure in nanoscale lithium

batteries"www.sciencedaily.com.Science Daily LLC. 21 Mar.2012.Web.13

Jun.2012.

"New nanotechnology that turns windows into transparent solar

panels".www.oilprice.com. CNBC.2 May.2012.Web. 13 Jun.2012

"Nuclear and Notech." www.spectrum.mit.edu. Spectrvm MIT. 2007.Web.13 June

2012."

"The 'Power' of Technology". www.nanotech-now.com. 7th Wave Inc.13 Jul. 2007.

Web.13 Jun.2012.