1. More Real-World Applications of Nanotechnology: Energy
FUEL CELL CARS
SOLAR CELLS
ELECTRIC CARS
Mark Tuominen, Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing, UMass, December 1, 2007

2. Prior application examples: Nanoelectronics

3. Example: Advancement of the iPod
10 GB
2001
20 GB
2002
40 GB
2004
80 GB
2006
160 GB
2007
Hard drive
Magnetic data storage
Uses nanotechnology!

4. Shrinking Magnets to the Nanoscale
Increases the amount of data stored
on a fixed amount of “real estate” !
Now ~ 100 billion bits/in2, future target more than 1 trillion bits/in2
25 DVDs on a disk the size of a quarter, or
all Library of Congress books on a 1 sq ft tile!

5. Computer
Microprocessor
"Heart of the computer"
Does the "thinking"

6. Shrinking Transistors to the Nanoscale
Moore's "Law": Number of Transistors per Microprocessor Chip
intel.com

7. Can similar advancements be made in energy technology?

8. History of Energy Consumption in the U.S.
quads
year

9. U.S. Total Energy Flow, 2003 in quadrillion Btu (QBtu)
1 BTU ~ 1055 Joule
The U.S. consumes about 100 QBtu annually.

10. Total US Energy Production and Consumption, 1980-2030
quadrillion Btu
History
Projections
Net imports
Consumption
Production

11. The Earth’s Power System
Sun

12. Solar Cells Benefit: Sun is an unlimited source of electronic energy.
Konarka

13. Electric Solar Cells Sunlight - + + -
Made from single-crystal silicon wafers (conventionally)
Sunlight
wires -
cross-sectional view
“load”
n-type silicon
Voltage
p-type silicon + + -
Current
The load can be a lamp, an electric motor, a CD player, a toaster, etc

14. Inside a Solar Cell light neutral Si atom + - electron hole
• The separated charge has higher potential energy than the neutral atom.
• The electron (and hole) are now free to move independent of one another.
light
neutral Si
atom + -
electron
hole

15. Electric Solar Cells Sunlight - - - - -- - - - + 0.5 Volt
p-n junction interface
Sunlight -
cross-sectional view
“load”
n-type silicon
0.5 Volt
Voltage
p-type silicon +
The electric power produced is proportional to the area of the solar cell
Current

16. Nanostructured Solar Cells
Sunlight -
“load”
Voltage +
Current
More interface area - More power!

17. ONE ROUTE: SELF ASSEMBLY
Diblock Copolymers
Block “B”
Block “A” PS
PMMA
~10 nm
Scale set by molecular size
Ordered Phases
10% A
30% A
50% A
70% A
90% A

18. Hydrogen Fuel Cell • Lightest fuel • Can make H2 from water Goals
Improve proton membrane
Use less catalyst
CHEAPER!

19. Nano-Battery

20. Nanotechnology R&D is interdisciplinary and impacts many application
Physics
Chemistry
Biology
Materials Science
Polymer Science
Electrical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Medicine
And others
Electronics
Materials
Health/Biotech
Chemical
Environmental
Energy
Aerospace
Automotive
Security
Forest products
And others

21. My Advice to Students: Pursue your interests Ask questions Be clever
Re: Your future
My Advice to Students:
Pursue your interests
Ask questions
Be clever
Do!
Thanks for visiting UMass and learning about nanotechnology!