Introducing nanotechnology and energy Neil Coville School of Chemistry University of the Witwatersrand Media Round Table 3 rd March 2011

Richard Feynman “Room at the bottom” “Why cannot we write the entire 24 volumes of the Encyclopedia Britannica on the head of a pin?” December 29th 1959 at an annual meeting Engineering and Science

Hard definition Nanoscience deals with the size regime in which properties change with the object size. Objects to be studied have one dimension of less than 100 nanometers So – what is nano!!

Colour of particles is a function of size Size increase Gold particles

Making computer chips

How do we see at the nano level ? Electron microscope Access to new instrumentation has led to the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology

Humanity’s top ten problems for the next 50 years 1.Energy 2.Water 3.Food 4.Environment 5.Poverty 6.Terrorism and war 7.Disease 8.Education 9.Democracy 10. Population Billion People Billion People Smalley

Millions of Barrels per Day (Oil Equivalent) Source: John F. Bookout (President of Shell USA),“Two Centuries of Fossil Fuel Energy” International Geological Congress, Washington DC; July 10,1985. Episodes, vol 12, (1989). World Energy

Some information Enough fossil fuel for 200 – 300 years Currently: >85% energy from fossil fuels But world will double energy use by 2050 Global warming ?? Lewis and Nocera, PNAS 103 (2006) Alternatives Biofuels Wave/wind/thermal Nuclear “No country has a policy against economic growth”

165,000 TW of sunlight hit the earth every day Consumption 2001 – 13 TW 2050 – 27 TW 2100 – 43 TW

Generation (the sun) Conversion (electricity, thermal) Collection and Storage (chemical bonds; e.g. hydrogen) Then utilization Energy issues for solar

But cost is too high !!!! Generation (the sun) Conversion (electricity, thermal) Collection and Storage (chemical bonds; e.g. hydrogen) Then utilization

Carbon ‘To carbon, the element of life, my first literary dream ………….’ Primo Levi Cheap/abundant Light weight Many shapes Conductor

(a) (b)(c) (d)(e) (f) (a) A carbon tool kit – bits and pieces for making devices

Wool fibers

Photovoltaics (solar cells) Batteries Fuel Cells Lightweight materials Fuel rods, nuclear materials, Electrochemistry and solid-state energy applications Catalyst applications Using the materials?

Buckypaper

The nano revolution relates to a mindset that considers how size relates to a materials property. This permits an understanding of the properties of materials at a new level. Can apply to the ENERGY field: a) In making devices smaller b) Making new devices that are small This is made possible by the availability of modern materials and techniques Conclusions

The new faces in SA Nanoscience

Consumption statistics show that around 30% of the energy available at source is lost before it reaches end-user. 42% of non-transport energy consumption is used to heat buildings, and in turn, a third of this energy is lost through windows. Transportation represents 74% (of UK) oil usage and 25% of UK carbon emissions. To achieve the 2010 EU 5.75% bio-fuels target would require 19% of arable land to be converted from food to bio-fuel crops. Some key energy facts