August 09 ElectroIndustry - 12

Nanotechnology Plays Important Role in GREG MONTY PHD., UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES INC. As the world transitions away from petroleum-based energy sources, and toward renewable energy sources—wind, solar, bio-fuels, fuel cells, hydrogen—energy must be captured and stored. The Smart Grid will not reach its potential without energy-storage solutions. Electrical energy-storage systems must not only achieve high-energy density to store large amounts of energy, but must also be able to deliver that energy at high power, and be able to be recharged very rapidly. These energy-storage objectives have driven many in the nanotechnology arena to develop solutions that will aid the transition to our greenenergy economy. Nanotechnology will not only enhance energy-storage devices, but it will also enable products to run more efficiently, and therefore require less energy. Wind energy will be made more durable with nanomaterials in turbine gears, and by coating the blades of the turbine for improved wind resistance and performance. Photovoltaic systems (solar panels) will benefit from improved conductivity of interconnects and improved solar collection of energy in the spectrum of sunlight. We will simply need less nano-enabled storage because of nanotechnology use in products. health, safety, and environmental impacts; measurement and characterization techniques; manufacturing procedures and processes; and the use of various nanomaterials in nano-enabled electronics. It is a daunting task in a field characterized by rapid implementation. It is particularly expensive to characterize nanomaterials, and this poses a great challenge for standard development organizations because there are thousands of nanomaterial variations being contemplated. The focus of standardization bodies today is on those applications with the highest probability of use. Let’s take a look at hydrogen. The process of “cracking” hydrogen from liquid methane or ammonia requires catalysts. Ammonia can be used with specially designed nanocatalysts that have no carbon emissions or greenhouse gases (GHGs), as only nitrogen is emitted as a byproduct. These catalysts can be enabled with the use of nanomaterials that act more efficiently. Nanotechnology has also led to the use of carbon-free catalysts. This leads to a discussion about the use of hydrogen in fuel cells. If one were to use pure hydrogen in its natural form, one is forced to deal with a very light and flammable gas. These fuel cells would be found in both stationary and portable power applications, adding to design complexity. Nanotechnology research is looking at how to store hydrogen in safer ways. Theoretical calculations Buckyball related to buckyballs (carbon nanoparticles) lead to an Nanomaterial usage generally means that fewer raw materials are estimate of eight percent hydrogen storage capacity per unit used, and this reduces our reliance on potentially non-renewable weight. This calculation is higher than the estimated need resources. Fewer raw materials means lower costs, especially for of the federal government target of six percent hydrogen expensive transition metals used in bulk today. Nanomaterials per unit weight. can improve the efficiency of energy storage and conversion processes, or improve device performance. Finally, research If hydrogen can be stored in this way, we might be able to and investment into nanotechnology have brought about new store it as a very stable chemically-bonded atom in a carbon manufacturing techniques that are becoming mature enough for nanostructure. Nanotechnology has also been used to produce high-volume applications. hydrogen gas directly from water, producing no GHGs. What makes nanomaterials so helpful? The most common uses of nanotechnology in the energy sector today are energy storage and conversion (photovoltaic panels, batteries, capacitors, and fuel cells); composites for catalysts; thermal management; and electronics and sensors. Nanotechnology standards are now being developed by IEC, ISO, IEEE, ASTM, and BSI. They are focusing on terminology; Batteries and Capacitors Without a doubt, the biggest research area today for nanoenabled energy products is batteries and ultra/super-capacitors— electrochemical capacitors that have an unusually high energy density, or energy storage capacity, when compared to common capacitors. Several car manufacturers have already announced 12 NEMA electroindustry • August 09

August 09 ElectroIndustry

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