Functional Films Research Centre at Singapore
Friday, June 25th, 2010
Singapore Economic Development Board and Bayer Material Science executives officially opened on June 22nd the new Functional Films Research Centre in Singapore. There is an ever growing demand for the films from the electronics industry in the Asia Pacific region. Customers also expect the films to meet evolving requirements.
The new facility will focus on high-tech films and nanotechnology to meet the growing and evolving demand in the region. Bayer Material Science is one of world’s largest polymer companies and its activities focus on manufacture of high-tech polymer materials. Using material technologies already developed by the company, the new facility will take up joint projects in collaboration with other partners to create technological breakthroughs in electronics.
Examples of possible developments include flexible screens and three-dimensional displays, and nanomaterials like conductive inks used in printed electronics or energy-efficient lighting technologies. The facility was set up with an investment of approximately SGD 12 million (€ 7 million). Additional investments are planned to expand the facilities in the coming years. The facility presently has a staff of 30 researchers and other personnel.
The facility evidences “Singapore’s attractiveness as a strategic base for research & development to meet the fast evolving market needs in Asia and globally,” remarked Dr Beh Swan Gin, Managing Director of Singapore Economic Development Board.
Read the news release at NanoWerk.
Tags: electronics industry, high-tech films, nanotechnology
Posted in nanomaterials, nanotechnology | No Comments »
Nanotechnology and the Environment
Saturday, June 19th, 2010
While the use of nanotechnology in food and medicine is viewed with some apprehension because of the possibility of unexpected dangers, clean energy is one area where its use is seen as highly promising. Nanomaterials and nanocoatings are considered to offer promising opportunities for energy-related applications such as batteries, supercapacitors, fuel-cells, hydrogen-storage, thermoelectrics and photovoltaics.
The Nano4Energy conference being organized by Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network (NanoKTN) at the University of Birmingham will focus on the potential of nanotechnology for clean energy. The conference, to be held on June 30, 2010, will see representatives from Nissan and the Carbon Trust discussing the role of nanotechnology in clean energy solutions.
Reviewing new developments in nanotechnology related to energy generation and energy storage will be a focus area. In particular, new technologies nearing commercialization will be featured at the conference, as will be the companies leading clean energy solutions.
Success in this area requires adequate networking and interactions among the players constituting the supply chain and the conference will provide a forum for industry professionals and academics to discuss the developments and issues.
The representative of Nissan Europe will discuss their new 100% Electric, zero emission, compact car that is expected to push the boundaries of clean energy transport. Another participant, Nanoco, will discuss the use of quantum dots in the manufacture of high efficiency, low-cost solar cells.
Read the release about the conference at the Material Handling World magazine.
Tags: clean energy, clean energy solutions, energy generation, energy storage, nanotechnology
Posted in energy generation, energy storage, nano batteries, nanomaterials, nanotechnology | 1 Comment »
New Hard Disk Drive Research Facility
Thursday, June 10th, 2010
A new international research hub at ANSIN, Queens University Belfast, has received £7.5 million worth of equipment from Seagate Technologies. Seagate will partner the hub in developing new levels of information and data storage, and the hub also expects to attract a variety of international companies who will do research in the areas of new medical sensors, security devices and many other applications.
The facility will be based in the School of Mathematics and Physics at Queen’s. The ANSIN facility will enable working with materials from micron scale, i.e. 50 times smaller than the width of human hair, down to layers a few atoms thick.
The first IBM PC/XTs had bulky hard disks that had a capacity of 10MB. At the time writing this, news comes about Hitachi releasing 320GB 7mm high 2.5-inch hard disks. With further advances, you might soon be able to carry a whole library of reading, listening and viewing material in your pocket!
Advances like these require new materials and using them in ways that people have not yet thought of. That is the kind of research the ANSIN facility hopes to make possible. The equipment provided by Seagate can be used by other companies joining the research effort. ANSIN hopes this will bring in new ideas and produce great new inventions.
Read the news release at SiliconRepublic.
Tags: data storage, hard disk capacity, information technology, nanotechnology
Posted in information technology, nanomaterials, nanotechnology | No Comments »
UAE Looks at Nanotechnology in Food Industry
Monday, May 31st, 2010
The Food Safety and Animal Health Division of Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) in UAE is getting interested in the potential and dangers of nanotechnology in food. Nanotech had promised fantastic things in the food sector, among other sectors. For example, claims were being made that using a process similar to microwave cooking, the technology can convert a tasteless and colorless drink into one tasting like coke, fruit juice or ginger beer, depending on the preference of the user.
Nanotechnology can change not only the taste but also the nutritional value and other properties of food, according to these claims. However, the claims are muted now as people began to look at possible dangers. Nanotech works at the levels of a billionth of a meter and nanomaterials can permeate human cells. Who knows what it can do to our DNA?
The potential of nanotechnology is not doubted. It can affect every stage of the food industry from production to final sale to consumers, according to a report published by a Canadian technology watchdog. However, experts are also becoming aware of potential dangers. Cosmetics using nanomaterials have entered human bloodstream and the cosmetic industry is observing a self-imposed ban on using such materials.
A study at University of California (UCLA) School of Public Health study indicated that the nanomaterial, nano-titanium dioxide, was damaging the DNA of mice. These and other developments have raised concerns about the safety aspects of nanotechnology. The UAE government has decided to keep a close watch on the emerging findings.
Read more at Khaleej Times
Posted in nanoethics, nanomaterials | 1 Comment »
Energy Efficiency Using a Wasted Property of Electrons
Friday, May 28th, 2010
Electrical energy is presently obtained by utilizing the difference between positively and negatively charged electrons. Electrons have a third property, their spin, or a small magnetic field pointing up or down. This property is not used currently by electrical devices because the devices are too big compared to the nanoscale electrons.
A researcher in Israel is focusing on using the spin information to create energy efficient batteries and to prevent the huge quantities of power that we lose while transmitting electricity through conventional wires. Superconductors can prevent such energy loss; but technology now requires super cool temperatures for superconductors to work. Researchers are hoping that using nanotechnology, they might be able to develop superconducting materials that work at room temperatures.
Today’s solid state disk drives manage to use ordered atoms packed together. When atoms in a material are arranged in an ordered fashion, properties of the material change. Working at nanoscale, it is theoretically possible to design materials with customized properties.
Working at nanoscale is no simple matter, however. A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter and you need highly advanced tools like Scanning Electron Microscope to find what is happening at this scale. The Israel research facility has just been equipped with equipment like a Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry, Scanning Electron Microscope and Environmental Scanning Microscope.
Using these advanced facilities, researchers hope to understand how maerial properties change at nanoscale and other issues involved. Read the report at Israel21c.
Tags: energy efficiency, nanotechnology, spin property of electrons, spintronics
Posted in energy generation, energy storage, nano batteries, nanomaterials, nanotechnology | No Comments »
Nanotechnology Resource for Developing Nations
Saturday, May 22nd, 2010
Nanotechnology.Zunia.org is one component of the knowledge exchange databases created by Zunia.org, which itself is part of Development Gateway, a project that works for more effective use of international aid and in other areas that benefit developing countries.
The nanotechnology database discusses emerging applications in the area of nanotechnology so that developing nations can also participate in developing and benefiting from these. The following post at the website illustrates the type of applications you will find discussed there.
Nanotechnology works at nanoscale, which means atomic and molecular levels. Working at these levels, it becomes possible to create new materials and change the properties of existing materials. One material that has important applications is electrically conductive composite materials that will also stretch and bend.
Smart clothing, flexible displays, stretchable circuits, implantable devices and actuators are some of the products that will find a stretchable and conductive material of high value. Carbon nanotubes, a nanomaterial, have superb conductivity. By creating a composite of elastic polymers and carbon nanotubes, it is considered possible to deliver a solution that these products can use.
Read the post at nanotechnology.zunia.org.
Tags: nanomaterials, nanotechnology
Posted in nanomaterials, nanotechnology | 2 Comments »
Where can Nanotechnology Help?
Sunday, May 16th, 2010
Nanotechnology is a field that affects other technologies in a big way. Considering that nanotechnology works at atomic levels, where you can even combine atoms in new ways to build new materials with strange properties or alter the properties of existing materials, it is no wonder that nanotech affects every other technology.
Nanotechnology is only a promise now. It can cause immense damage, say by penetrating our skins and reaching internal organs to damage them, that application developers have to proceed carefully even where something is technically feasible.
Which are the specific areas where nanotechnology might find beneficial applications? Nanomedicine, nanomaterials, nanobiotech and such other terms give a broad indication of the possibilities. Some specific applications in toxic waste treatment, energy and medicine mentioned below can give an idea of the scope of this new technology.
Carbon nanotubes have immense strength and great electrical properties. They can probably solve the problem of electrical power delivery in nanomachines that are the size of cells or smaller. These machines can be used, for example, to work with toxic waste and convert them into harmless substances.
Nanobatteries can possibly deliver perpetual power by generating it from ambient sources such as the small movements we make, and eliminating leakage of stored power, as discussed under posts related to nanotech energy applications in this blog.
Nanorobots can traverse our bloodstreams and deliver drugs at precisely the places they are needed, such as tumor cells. They might even be able to repair damaged cells.
You can visit Bigthink for a big look at the possibilities.
Tags: nanotechnology applications, nanotechnology dangers
Posted in nano batteries, nanomaterials, nanomedicine, nanotechnology | 1 Comment »
Nanotechnology and Climate Change
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
Climate change is a major concern for the world. The change is attributed to global warming caused by carbon emissions, caused mainly by human activities. A survey by Environmental Protection Agency of USA estimates carbon emissions from the electric power generation sector at 34%, transport sector at 28%, industries at 20%, residential & commercial properties at 11% and agriculture at 7% in the country.
The study also indicated that carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere have increased 40% since the start of the industrial revolution. While CO2 is the major “greenhouse” gas that leads to global warming, other emissions such as methane also contribute their bit.
Greenhouse gases degrade quality of life by affecting many things from weather to our health. These gases damage the ozone layer that protects our earth from the many dangers to life and health originating from space (through which earth is moving).
With the increasing awareness of the dangers posed by global warming, governments all over the world are looking at ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The suggestions for doing it include :
- Reducing energy consumption by developing technologies that do not involve burning fossil fuels.
- Adopting technologies that use renewable energy and better technologies for energy storage.
- Separation, sequestration and conversion of emitted carbon into useful products.
Nanotechnology can help with these solutions. For example, it can develop high strength materials that help more efficient use of energy and nanocatalysts can improve fuel efficiency.
Read the detailed article on how nanotechnology can help with environmental issues at nanowerk.
Tags: energy efficiency solutions, energy storage solutions, nanomaterials, nanotech solutions for global warming
Posted in nano batteries, nanomaterials, nanotechnology, renewable energy, sustainable development | No Comments »
Nanotechnology in Russia
Tuesday, May 4th, 2010
Nanotechnology has applications in practically all areas and a diversified scientific sector is needed for utilizing its development potential. Russia has taken care to preserve such a sector through all its turbulent periods and is now beginning to reap benefits in the area of nanotech development. The country is creating a network of factories where nanotechnology is used.
In the city of Rubinsk, one company has obtained a license from ROSNANO Corporation to use a technology commercialized by the latter. The technology involves coating cutting tools with an ultra-thin layer that enhances the effectiveness of the tools. These tools are used in manufacturing aircraft engines and equipment and in rocket and space industry.
ROSNANO has been quite busy lately and has launched several projects in solar energy, light-emitting diodes and carbon materials for the aircraft industry. The tool-coating technology mentioned above was developed by Kurchatov Institute of Russian Scientific Development Center and commercialized with the help of ROSNANO.
The Kurchatov Institute has some developments in hydrogen energy and in membrane areas, involving use of nanotechnology. Its next project is aimed at extending the durability of blades of aircraft engines and turbines of ships. Another institute uses plasma technology and ion-implantation process based on semiconductor circuits.
According to the director of the Kurchatov Institute, in nanotechnology area Russia is on par with the U.S and Europe and will become a leading producer in this area in the future. Russian-made nano-powders and nano-membranes have a high demand in the world market.
Read the news report at Voice of Russia.
Tags: aircraft industry, cutting tools, nanotechnology, russia
Posted in nanomaterials, nanotechnology | No Comments »
Nanotechnology Regulations Expected Soon
Wednesday, April 21st, 2010
At nano levels, materials can behave unexpectedly. Neutral materials can become toxic; the minute particles can penetrate the barrier of human (or animal) skin and reach internal systems, such as the bloodstream, where they can cause harm. In fact, the cosmetic industry had imposed a ban on itself preventing the use of nanomaterials in “invisible” sunscreens.
As a new technology, regulators in most countries do not know what they are dealing with. It is difficult to identify likely hazards and draft regulations to safeguard against these. Regulations have hence been slow in appearing.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of USA has been reportedly evaluating its options for regulating use of nanomaterials. The tone was set by EPA’s administrator by laying out principles for the safety assessments of chemical substances.
It was the general view that manufacturers should be responsible for providing safety data on new and existing chemical substances. Significant New Use Rules (SNUR), mandatory data submission and test rules are being visualized for regulating nanomaterials as the voluntary Nanoscale Materials Stewardship Program (NMSP) has reportedly produced disappointing results.
The disappointment about NMSP resulted from inadequate data for science-based decision-making on the safety of new materials. EPA has in the meanwhile been taking quiet enforcement actions against nanomaterial producers.
Read the news report at Nanotechnology Now.
Tags: nanomaterials, nanotechnology, new technology regulations, safety of new materials
Posted in nanomaterials, nanotechnology, safety regulations | No Comments »
