Nanoscience and Energy

Energy Change

How can small science help us

produce big changes in

energy production?

From coal to oil, from batteries to nuclear

energy, from the sun to wind, from bright

lights to the car engine.

Energy,

...I See the Light!

What will light up your life in the future: gas, coal

or an alternative fuel, possibly an alternative fuel

made using nanotechnology? New ideas using

nanotechnology like those shown

in this section are just a few of the

innovations.

How Big Is Nano?

http://www.terressentials.com/exposure.html

This is one

nanometer!

http://www.nano.gov/html/facts/The_scale_of_things.html

One example of new

alternative energy

production using

nanoscience is

nanocrystalline solar cells

using the dye extracted from

citrus!

http://www.bowlesphysics.com/nano/

http://www.library.drexel.edu/blogs/thesuggestionbox/Computer.JPG

A Fruity Solution

Nanosizing Solar Power

Nanotechnology can offer a more cost effective solar photovoltaic cell. Presently they are made of glass.

In the future with the precise control of matter at the atomic and molecular levels thinner, cheaper and more lightweight and flexible material than glass can be used.

Also nanolayers or nanorods can increase the amount of electricity converted from sunlight. These nanostructures will be more effective at absorbing light.

Imagine solar cells in roofing tiles, siding and paint!

International Strategy and Foresight Report on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Final Report 19th March 2004cartoon: http://www.tasmanenergy.com.au/solar_electricity.htmhttp://www.ontario-sea.org/RE_solar.php

Charge!

Nanotechnology is being used to

improve the performance of rechargeable batteries.

New lithium ion batteries which use nanosized lithium titanate can provide 10 to100 times greater charging/discharging rates compared to the current conventional batteries.

Several research groups are working on hydrogen storage possibilities in nanostructured materials, including carbon nanotubes, nanocrystalline magnesium compounds or organometallic (a combination of organic and metallic) compounds, which could be applied to fuel cells. Read more on the next page.

A videocast on nanotechnology in batteries can be seen at Batteries videocast if you have Real Player

International Strategy and Foresight Report on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Final Report 19th March 2004

Hydrogen Fuel Using Nano-graphiteStoring hydrogen has been a big stumbling block for hydrogen fueled vehicles, because it requires cold, heat or pressure, thus requiring equipment that is heavy, bulky or expensive.

http://curtrosengren.typepad.com/alternative_energy/2005/07/nanographite_ma.html

http://i.treehugger.com/images/2007-2-1/hydrogen%20station.jpg

Carbon nanotubes are being considered as a possible way to solve this problem, an expensive way. Graphite layers spaced slightly less than a nanometer apart can also store hydrogen at room temperature and moderate pressures at close to a good weight. Graphite would be less expensive and easier to prepare than carbon nanotubes. Another good possibility is the use of porous carbon foams.

Power Turbines

Power plants today require

the use of power turbines

to produce energy. Within

the next five years even these turbines will be

changed by nanotechnology. General Electric

is exploring how nanotechnology can help to

make the turbine blades used to spin these

power plants even more durable. Using

ceramics enriched with nanoscale particles,

GE hopes to build more powerful turbines that

operate at higher temperatures.

://images.businessweek.com/mz/05/07/nano2/5.htm?slideShowSpeed=20

Enzyme Production Could

Boost Biofuels Production

Enzymes can be used to help produce alternatives to petro-based products. Glucose, from plants, is carbon-based, like petroleum. It is a base for ethanol, a gasoline substitute or additive. Glucose is used to make plastics.

Enzymes are natural, biodegradable and safe catalysts for chemical processes. Using farm waste or crops, such as corn, cornstalks, straw, sugarcane, soybeans or other cellulose-rich plants, enzymes could make the production of glucose cost effectively and clean. Glucose can then be used to create gasoline substitutes and other products.

Mark Emalfarb, Dyadic CEO http://curtrosengren.typepad.com/alternative_energy/2005/07/nanographite_ma.html

and http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=37021

Sunscreen on the Move

Researchers at Georgia Tech suggest that nanoribbons of zinc oxide, that white smeary sunscreen, produces electrical charge when moved, thus converting mechanical energy, such as walking, into electrical energy.

“From each thread, they found picoamps of current, which is small, but predicted 20-80 mW per square meter of fabric. That won’t light up any lightbulbs, since even one of those new LED flashlights requires about 1 Watt — about 50 times more. But it does show that we could power small sensors or other devices.” Dr. Zhong Lin, Georgia Tech

Nan0-Energy Generation http://geoffhutchison.net/blog/archives/2008/02/19/nano-energy-generation/ http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-

http://www.nanoscience.gatech.edu/zlwang/research.html http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v451/n7180/abs/nature06601.html;jsessionid=FE024646BB64CA8BC4C199FBF2653F2Abin/abstract.cgi/nalefd/2008/8/i01/abs/nl072440v.html

http://www.aphoenix.ca/photoblog/photos/SunnySkies.jpg

More Nanotechnology in Energy Options

Professor and Nobel

Laureate R.E. Smalley

from Rice University

presented numerous

nanotechnology uses

for energy production

and utilization in this

linked presentation.

-Professor Richard SmalleyNobel Laureate, Gene and Norman Hackerman Professor of Chemistry and Professor of Physics & Astronomy, Rice University http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?event_id=30122&fuseaction=events.event_summary

-http://free.ed.gov/images/resources/nanoscience-nsf.jpg

And More…

Scientists at NanoSigcreated a presentation to share what this company is accomplishing in the area of alternative energy using nanotechnology. You can link to thatpresentation here.

http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?event_id=30122&fuseaction=events.event_summary

http://www.netrocity.com/images/alternative_energy_310.png

http://www.grcblog.com/wp-content/uploads/bloggers/5/blog_images/solar2.jpg

Nano-Cleaned Coal

A researcher discusses the

use of nano-catalysts to

clean coal in the

presentation linked here.

http://storage1.morguefile.com/images/storage/c/click/lowrez/Conesville_Power_Plant_041.jpg

Social, Environmental and Ethical

Concerns

Nanotechnology is Wonderful!

It is said that due to the use of nanotechnology the ability to collect and store solar energy cheaply will greatly reduce the need for fossil fuels and the power grid.

Also, products (including houses) with the help of nanotechnology can become much more efficient, further reducing energy demand.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.ewels.info/img/science/c60images/c60_with_galaxy.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ewels.info/img/science/gallery/index.html&h=1000&w=1000&sz=108&hl=en&sta

rt=9&tbnid=YOD3P3CnZqmA0M:&tbnh=149&tbnw=149&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnanoscience%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Or Isn't It?

As it stands, the use of the chemical hydrogen for fueling the fuel cell utilizes more energy in its extraction from natural gas than is derived from burning it to power the fuel cell in motor vehicles. That makes fuel-cell-powered cars a form of economic science fiction for the very long-term future, if not forever.”

Michael ZelvinNew York

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/05_10/c3923024_mz004.htm?chan=search

http://www.linfield.edu/soan/et/images/SER_27052007125123.jpg

“You suggest that carbon nanotubes show potential for hydrogen storage,

thus improving the odds that hydrogen fuel cells could replace fossil-fuel

engines. The development of sophisticated means for fuel storage of

hydrogen does not solve the main problem of the present uneconomic

cost of producing hydrogen for the fuel cell.

Which Opinion is Correct?

Or is the answer somewhere in

between? What is the cost to the

environment when we manufacture

and use these nanomaterials and

techniques?

http://gstaadblog.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/climate-change.jpg

Social, Environmental and Ethical

Concerns

1. Might these nanotechnology developments in

energy infringe on human rights?

2. Could any of them decrease privacy of

individuals?

3. Could the use of nanotechnology for energy have

unwanted and negative environmental effects?

4. What economic impact could the use of

nanotechnology in energy have on producers,

consumers, and other industries? Might they be

negative or positive?

What About Your Rights?

If so, are these developments

more important than

•Your privacy?

•Your rights as a citizen?

•Your rights as a human being?

Are the answers somewhere in between?

Planning Your

Presentation

http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/photo/2007/02/15/PH2007021502068.jpg

http://www.presentationalspeaking.com/images/pic_2.jpg

To prepare for your

presentation, answer

these questions using

reference materials

which can include the

websites linked to this

webquest:

1. What can be done to

maximize the chances that

humans will benefit from,

rather than be harmed by

these new developments?

2. If we can develop these

technologies, should we?

Why?

Resources

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/search/home?strCriteria=nanotechnology&searchtype=story

http://www.er.doe.gov/News_Information/News_Room/2006/nano/index.htm

http://www.voyle.net/Nano%20Energy/Nano%20Energy%20%202004-0001.htm

http://wolbring.wordpress.com/category/energy/

http://www.mos.org/topics/nanotech_and_nanomedicine

http://www.nano.gov/html/news/current.html

Numerous nanoscience links can be found at this link: Websites link

More information on nanoscience uses in energy production and utilization can be found at the following websites.

http://www.ewels.info/img/science/c60images/c60_with_galaxy.jpg

More Help

If you would like help breaking down

your research into steps, click on the

help button. It will provide a

breakdown of the questions you will

need to answer.