If current news is any indication, Nanotechnology is poised to play a
significant role in the development of clean, less expensive energy.
The potential of nanotechnology for solving some of today's greatest
energy challenges is vast.
Nanotechnology refers broadly to a
field of applied science and technology whose unifying theme is the
control of matter on the molecular level in scales smaller than one
micrometer, normally 1 to 100 nanometers, and the fabrication of
devices within that size range. For scale, a single virus particle is
about 100 nanometers in width.
Encompassing nanoscale science,
engineering and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring,
modeling, and manipulating matter at this length scale."
At this
size dimension, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of
materials differ in fundamental and valuable ways from the properties
of individual atoms, molecules, or bulk matter. The properties
displayed at the nanoscale create a host of potential innovative uses
for nanomaterials. One of these uses includes the creation of exciting
and revolutionary energy applications. These potential nanoscale energy
applications apply to a host of different sources of energy, including
hydrogen, geothermal, unconventional natural gas, fission, and solar
energy.
While hydrogen is an energy storage medium, it is not a
primary energy source. Therefore, full realization of hydrogen as an
alternative energy source is frustrated by gaps in technology, which do
not precipitate the efficient and cost-effective storage and transport
of hydrogen. Nanoscience provides new approaches to basic questions
about the interaction of hydrogen with materials to enable the
efficient and cost-effective storage and transport of hydrogen.
Applying
nanotechnology to geothermal energy increases the opportunities to
develop geothermal resources by enhancing thermal conductivity or
aiding in the development of noncorrosive materials that could be used
for geothermal energy production.
The recovery of unconventional
sources of natural gas is yet another potential application of
nanotechnology. Unconventional sources of natural gas include tight
sandstones, shale gas, and coal bed methane. Nanotechnology
applications may prove useful in accessing or exploiting these
unconventional natural gas sources. For instance, nanocatalysts and
nanoscale membranes may prove useful in assisting in Gas to Liquids
production. Furthermore, certain nanostructured materials may assist in
compressed natural gas transport.
Nanotechnology may also prove
useful in solving the waste problems of the nuclear energy industry.
For instance, certain nano-engineered barriers may prove useful in
preventing the migration of or containing nuclear waste products.
Nanotechnology
applications may assist in making solar energy more economical.
Nanoscience can be utilized to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic
cells, creating cost-efficient conversion systems, effective solar
power storage systems or even the generation of solar energy on a
larger scale. For instance, "nanopatterning" can artificially change
the optical properties of materials to allow light to be trapped in
solar cells.
Nanotechnology might someday allow for more powerful, more efficient
and less expensive energy generation, storage transmission and
distribution. Nanotechnology is being used to optimize production from
existing energy sources and to exploit new sources such as geothermal,
liquefied natural gas, nuclear and solar energy. Nanotechnology is also
improving and opening new possibilities for the transmission and
storage of energy, especially electricity and possibly hydrogen in the
future. Nanotechnologies have the potential to reduce energy
consumption by making it possible to manufacture lighter and/or more
energy efficient cards and appliances. Even though nanotechnology is a
relatively young field, the potential for future nanotechnology
applications within the energy industry could turn out to be one of the
most important technological developments of our time.
significant role in the development of clean, less expensive energy.
The potential of nanotechnology for solving some of today's greatest
energy challenges is vast.
Nanotechnology refers broadly to a
field of applied science and technology whose unifying theme is the
control of matter on the molecular level in scales smaller than one
micrometer, normally 1 to 100 nanometers, and the fabrication of
devices within that size range. For scale, a single virus particle is
about 100 nanometers in width.
Encompassing nanoscale science,
engineering and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring,
modeling, and manipulating matter at this length scale."
At this
size dimension, the physical, chemical, and biological properties of
materials differ in fundamental and valuable ways from the properties
of individual atoms, molecules, or bulk matter. The properties
displayed at the nanoscale create a host of potential innovative uses
for nanomaterials. One of these uses includes the creation of exciting
and revolutionary energy applications. These potential nanoscale energy
applications apply to a host of different sources of energy, including
hydrogen, geothermal, unconventional natural gas, fission, and solar
energy.
While hydrogen is an energy storage medium, it is not a
primary energy source. Therefore, full realization of hydrogen as an
alternative energy source is frustrated by gaps in technology, which do
not precipitate the efficient and cost-effective storage and transport
of hydrogen. Nanoscience provides new approaches to basic questions
about the interaction of hydrogen with materials to enable the
efficient and cost-effective storage and transport of hydrogen.
Applying
nanotechnology to geothermal energy increases the opportunities to
develop geothermal resources by enhancing thermal conductivity or
aiding in the development of noncorrosive materials that could be used
for geothermal energy production.
The recovery of unconventional
sources of natural gas is yet another potential application of
nanotechnology. Unconventional sources of natural gas include tight
sandstones, shale gas, and coal bed methane. Nanotechnology
applications may prove useful in accessing or exploiting these
unconventional natural gas sources. For instance, nanocatalysts and
nanoscale membranes may prove useful in assisting in Gas to Liquids
production. Furthermore, certain nanostructured materials may assist in
compressed natural gas transport.
Nanotechnology may also prove
useful in solving the waste problems of the nuclear energy industry.
For instance, certain nano-engineered barriers may prove useful in
preventing the migration of or containing nuclear waste products.
Nanotechnology
applications may assist in making solar energy more economical.
Nanoscience can be utilized to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic
cells, creating cost-efficient conversion systems, effective solar
power storage systems or even the generation of solar energy on a
larger scale. For instance, "nanopatterning" can artificially change
the optical properties of materials to allow light to be trapped in
solar cells.
Nanotechnology might someday allow for more powerful, more efficient
and less expensive energy generation, storage transmission and
distribution. Nanotechnology is being used to optimize production from
existing energy sources and to exploit new sources such as geothermal,
liquefied natural gas, nuclear and solar energy. Nanotechnology is also
improving and opening new possibilities for the transmission and
storage of energy, especially electricity and possibly hydrogen in the
future. Nanotechnologies have the potential to reduce energy
consumption by making it possible to manufacture lighter and/or more
energy efficient cards and appliances. Even though nanotechnology is a
relatively young field, the potential for future nanotechnology
applications within the energy industry could turn out to be one of the
most important technological developments of our time.
This report is published by Energy Business Reports (http://www.energybusinessreports.com), an energy industry think tank and leading source for energy industry information and research products.
Article Source: http://www.ArticleBiz.com
Powered by ScribeFire.
No comments:
Post a Comment