• Question: how do you see nanotechnology affecting energy, eg solar?

    Asked by ldunne to Adam, Chris, Eleanor, Jessamyn, Sinead on 12 Nov 2013.
    • Photo: Adam Murphy

      Adam Murphy answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      So I wasn’t entirely sure of the answer to this question, so I went off and had a look. It was very interesting, so thanks for your question. Turns out the answer is that it’s already starting to in a few ways!

      People have invented these nanoscale membranes (like a skin) To put around as insulation. They can trap air and let water vapour through (air is really good at holding heat, but water isn’t as good) This can improve how we heat things and save us energy! These membranes are also being used to filter water, letting the water through but trapping all the dirt and other nasty chemicals.

      There’s also work being done to improve solar cells. Solar cells aren’t great right now (Though they’re still better than fossil fuels). Solar cells that you buy usually only convert 20% of sunlight into electricity, people are trying to make nanomaterials that can absorb more light, and maybe we’ll see that in a few years!

      The big one is improving Hydrogen fuel cells. These have a real chance to replace fossil fuels, but the reactions in them that make the hydrogen are really slow, hopefully nanomembranes and nanoparticles could speed up this reaction.

      Finally, there’s a lot of research into ultracapacitors. A capacitor is a piece of circuitry that can store charge, it’s like a temporary battery. Ultracapacitors are made on the nanoscale, and they might lead to better, smaller, faster computers.

      In every area of nanoscience there’s so much being done!

    • Photo: Eleanor Holmes

      Eleanor Holmes answered on 12 Nov 2013:

      Graphene is conductive and transparent which makes it a good candidate for solar cells. However, on a large scale it is very difficult to keep is free of defects (wrinkles, tears, patches where atomic bonds don’t line up right) which decreases the electrical conductivity of the graphene.

      So I don’t envision solar cells made entirely of graphene, but with graphene as an ingredient or layer along with other stuff to keep the desirable properties stable.

      Another energy application for graphene is in energy storage. This is potentially more useful as we have many renewable ways to generate electricity but only while the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. So we need better ways of storing that energy for use when we want to use it.

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