Nanoplastic technology until 2020
In a report, Rand Institute (RAND) has examined the trends of biotechnology, nano, materials and information until 2020. In this report, the trends, drivers, barriers and social effects of each of these subsets of these technologies have been analyzed. In the nanotechnology trends section, sub-sections such as sensors, energy, electronics, nanobio and nanoscale manufacturing have been analyzed.
Today, scientific advances in microscopy and related fields allow us to observe and manipulate materials at the atomic or molecular scale. If we look at nanotechnology broadly, we find that it has had a profound impact on all scientific fields in physics, chemistry, and biology. Considering the high growth rate of these fields and the impact that nanotechnology has already had on industry and science, it is difficult to predict where this technology will take us in the next 15 years. However, it is possible to take a look at the advances in nanotechnology and the fields of scientific development and see general trends that may define the future of nanotechnology.
An increasing number of nanotechnology-enabled products are emerging in commercial products; For example, nanoscale particles are used in sunscreens to increase the amount of protection against ultraviolet rays, or nanoscale coatings are used in glass lenses and fibers to give them properties such as anti-wear. Make.
Other commercial sectors, such as computer circuits or catalysts used in chemical processes, have been using nanotechnology for several years. However, many of the improvements that are constantly mentioned in articles and publications are only applicable at the laboratory level or are only used in products that use very advanced technologies. It will take years for many of these scientific advances to be introduced into consumer and general products; For example, the December 1989 issue of Science magazine published an article describing the design and testing of a nanoscale tunneling diode. It will take years for many of these scientific advances to be introduced into consumer and general products; For example, the December 1989 issue of Science magazine published an article describing the design and testing of a nanoscale tunneling diode.
The transfer of emerging and new nano-enabled technologies from the laboratory to commercial products depends on many factors; Some of these factors are:
– Integrating these technologies with products that have determinable and repeatable features;
– Cost;
– Increasing the scale of production for commercial products;
– development of related technologies;
– market pressure;
– acceptance of nano-enabled products by customers;
– acceptance of nano-enabled products by customers;
Nanotechnology in energy:
In the last few decades, advances in battery performance have not been accompanied by rapid advances in electronics or digital technologies (such as processing power and data storage capacity). However, recent advances in nanotechnology have the potential to improve not only battery performance, but also a wide range of materials that can be useful for batteries and solar cells.
Scientists are actively pursuing nanotechnology and nanocomposites to improve the performance of battery electrodes. The main focus of this research is on the integration of nanomaterials in current battery structures; For example, scientists from universities such as Rutgers and Massachusetts Institute of Technology have worked on nanocomposite electrodes that will increase the energy density and power of conventional batteries. The industry has also actively participated in this field and is trying to improve the performance of existing commercial batteries by using emerging and new nano technologies.
The industry has also actively participated in this field and is trying to improve the performance of existing commercial batteries by using emerging and new nano technologies. The industry has also actively participated in this field and is trying to improve the performance of existing commercial batteries by using emerging and new nano technologies. The industry has also actively participated in this field and is trying to improve the performance of existing commercial batteries by using emerging and new nano technologies. NEMS are electromechanical devices that have individual nanometer-scale structures and components.
One of the challenges that has limited the usefulness of these tools is the ability to deliver electrical power to these systems. In most cases, the energy sources used to power these devices overshadow the functionality of the devices themselves, so researchers are actively looking for ways to create nanostructured batteries that can be used on the devices themselves. and as a result expanded the range of applications of these tools; For example, academic researchers are looking for ways to insert nanostructures into batteries, so that they can make smaller or three-dimensional shape factors. Many of these nano-enabled technologies are leading to architectures that were not possible using conventional 2D thin film battery designs or processes.
Advances in nanotechnology have begun to have an important impact on solar cell technology as well. Companies such as Konarka Technologies Inc. have begun using titanium dioxide nanoparticles coated with colored molecules to create more flexible and adaptable solar cells. The use of nanoparticles has made it possible to produce photovoltaic cells at lower temperatures, which in turn gives Konarka the ability to use flexible polymer substrates instead of the usual glass substrates. This capability makes it possible to integrate solar cells in a wide range of materials (such as fibers and building materials).
Other researchers have used nanoparticles in the production of solar cells in order to increase the conversion efficiency of these cells; For example, researchers at the University of Toronto in Canada have used quantum dot particles to achieve higher overall conversion efficiency; This battery works in the infrared range. Konarka recently entered into a joint venture with Evident Technologies to use quantum dots instead of organic dye molecules in its solar cells. The purpose of using quantum dots is to expand the range of sensitivity of solar cells from the visible spectrum of light to other parts, and as a result, they can absorb more light and increase the overall conversion efficiency.
The current state of using nanotechnology in energy:
Even now, relatively few commercial batteries or solar cells take advantage of the advances in nanotechnology. Even now, relatively few commercial batteries or solar cells take advantage of the advances in nanotechnology. However, an increasing number of companies are accepting nanotechnology advances and using them to produce products; For example, the Konarka company has received several grants from the US Army for the production of flexible solar cells based on nanotechnology, so that by producing these cells, it can reduce the weight of the necessary equipment that a soldier must carry with him (in order to produce power for military equipment), plus several companies including mPhase Technologies, Altair Nanotechnologies, and Toshiba are developing nanostructured electrodes to extend the shelf life of batteries and improve their charging and discharging speeds. other companies from federal funds; Like the Small Business Innovation Grant, Research is used to work on nano-enabled electrodes and related fields.
Much research is needed to deliver the required power to NEMS/MEMS devices before this technology can be used in commercial products.
Much research is needed to deliver the required power to NEMS/MEMS devices before this technology can be used in commercial products.
By 2020, many of the resulting advances in electrode design and battery architecture will likely be used in commercial batteries. Technologies such as new electrodes that use nanocomposites will have a big impact on the market because this technology is compatible with conventional battery design, and it is also likely that 3D designs of batteries – that use nanostructures – They are largely included in commercial products. The likelihood that 3D battery architectures will replace cell phone or computer batteries is low in this time frame, however the market traction for MEMS/NEMS technology – which utilizes these emerging nano technologies – is very high. The likelihood that 3D battery architectures will replace cell phone or computer batteries is low in this time frame, however the market traction for MEMS/NEMS technology – which utilizes these emerging nano technologies – is very high. Recent work on quantum dots and other technology-enabled solar cells suggests that nanotechnology advances could lead to cells with conversion efficiencies equal to or perhaps greater than those of today’s commercial solar cells. . Considering the progress made in the field of solar cell processing, there is a possibility that solar cells in consumer products; As building materials (roofing materials), electronic devices (cell phones and computers) and perhaps even textiles (tents or outdoor clothing) are incorporated.
Applications and social effects:
Due to the challenges and problems in the field of battery technologies and electricity supply, the applications of several new technologies have been limited. The advances in the field of electricity empowered with nanotechnology have the ability to be effective in many aspects of how technology affects society. One of the drivers of progress in batteries is the possibility of creating and improving electric and hybrid cars (gasoline-electric).
Another potential societal impact is related to the use of nanostructured batteries in MEMS/NEMS devices. The biggest part of many of these devices is the power source, especially if the power source is located on the chip itself. In the next 15 years, major advances in 3D batteries are likely to lead to the production of smaller, autonomous (autonomous) sensors and communication devices, and as a result, the social impacts of this field include continuous and better monitoring, management of the use of these sensors, and issues related to people’s privacy.
Finally, advances made in the development of nanotechnology-based solar cells can affect the use of distributed electric power. Cheaper, stronger, and more flexible solar cells—which can be incorporated into fibers or building materials—will greatly impact electrical energy distribution infrastructure. Developing countries that do not have enough electricity distribution capacity can significantly benefit from this technology. Developing countries that do not have enough electricity distribution capacity can significantly benefit from this technology.
Nano technology in sensors:
One of the areas where nano technology will exclusively create new capabilities is sensor technology. Considering that we can now build tools on a single-molecule scale, it is possible to greatly increase the sensitivity (at least in the detection range) and selectivity (the ability to detect specific chemicals or processes) of new sensing methods and the ability to detect processes and Events that were previously unrecognizable are provided.
Current status of sensors:
Some nanotechnology-enabled sensing technologies are now being used commercially. One of these technologies is the handheld sensing system of Smith Detection (formerly Cyrano Sciences Inc.); This system uses an array of nanostructured materials in a polymer-fiber matrix to identify different chemical agents. However, an increasing number of laboratories around the world are using advances in nanotechnology to develop chemical and biosensing technologies.
This growth has led to a new group of emerging nanotechnology-enabled products that, although still in various experimental and investigational stages, have the ability to reduce the instrument size, sample quantity required, and time required for bioanalysis. and reduce chemical to a great extent. This growth has led to a new group of emerging nanotechnology-enabled products that, although still in various experimental and investigational stages, have the ability to reduce the instrument size, sample quantity required, and time required for bioanalysis. and reduce chemicals to a great extent. All these technologies are based on measurable changes in the fundamental properties of matter or matter systems, and these changes are the result of interactions that are detectable due to the nanoscale properties of these materials.
Sensors by 2020 (potential technology):
By 2020, several nanotechnologies—emerging in the early 21st century—are likely to be in commercial products and applications. Until then, new groups of sensors that have a low cost and can be easily used in buildings and infrastructure facilities will become practical. Until then, new groups of sensors that have a low cost and can be easily used in buildings and infrastructure facilities will become practical. In some cases, these new sensors may be integrated with existing care and communication structures (such as video cameras, motion sensors, and telephones); For example, future buildings and structures that are particularly threatened could have advanced surveillance systems that integrate imaging with chemical and biological diagnostic systems; While they need little human intervention. Many of these systems are designed to monitor a range of desired factors and can report results within minutes. Other potential applications of nanotechnology-enabled sensors include front-of-house systems, vehicle control systems, and home safety equipment such as carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.
Future developments in long-life, maintenance-free sensors will require significant development in battery capacity and power management, and fluid screening for micro-sensing systems. For certain high-risk or national security-related functions (such as military applications or emergency response), wearable sensors will be widely available; These sensors are connected to the pervasive communication network and will be able to quickly inform each person’s contact with the desired agents (chemical or biological) and the location and level of contact. Also, in the next 15 years, more and more advances in selectivity and Chemical and biological sensitization of all sensors will occur.
Applications and social effects:
In many cases, the possibility of using sensors enabled by nanotechnology will be integrated with or based on existing monitoring and care systems; Therefore, sensors enabled with nano technology will not have an effect on the target of the eye; Rather, they will improve the quality (or depth) of navigation and care. Networked personal chemical and biological sensors are likely to have widespread use only in homeland security and military applications (especially by rapid response forces) and the general public is unlikely to be sufficiently motivated to use such personal chemical and biological sensors. , is very low, unless a major chemical or biological disaster occurs. However, evidence suggests that communication devices (such as cell phones) will contain more sensors in the future.