Nanotechnology in the energy market

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Developing clean and renewable energy is crucial for meeting increasingly world energy needs (it is estimated that the world will need to double its energy supply by 2050) that have arisen from population increases and economic expansion in countries such as China and Brazil. The need to reduce dependence on fossil-fuels, global warming and pollution is also of vital impor- tance. As a result, there is a drive for new technologies for energy storage (batteries and supercapacitors) and energy conversion (solar cells and fuel cells). As the performance of these technologies is dependent on the materials utilized, nanomaterials are providing the impetus for new product innovation.
Carbon based nanomaterials such as graphene and CNTs will play a significant role in new energty technologies. They promise to deliver higher energy densities, shorter charge time, longer cycle life and charge lifespan and improved safety in battery tech. They already find application as conductive additives for cathodes and anodes in Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and this market will continue to grow. They are leading candidates for application in supercapacitors and fuel cells.
Future applications are possible in photovoltaics. CNTs, along with graphene and fullerenes, possess properties that are important in photovoltaics such as carrier mobility, thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, and optical absorption. They can also dissolved in organic solvents to deposit thin solar cell active layers from solution.

AdvEn Solutions
http://adven-solutions.com

THE COMPANY
The company is developing high performance rechargeable batteries utilizing induced fluorination carbon nanotube array (CNTA) paper cathodes.

THE TECHNOLOGY
AdvEn Solutions hopes to have
a prototype by the end of 2014 and aims to develop three versions of the battery technology to serve different goals. One battery would have a high power output and a long life cycle, the second would have high energy for quick charging, and the third super-high energy storage. The company recently secured a partnership with Lockheed Martin to develop an advanced anode for AdvEn’s high-performance carbon cathode.

SiNode Systems
http://sinodesystems.com

THE COMPANY
SiNode Systems is a battery materials venture developing silicon-graphene anodes for the next generation of lithium-ion batteries.
THE TECHNOLOGY
SiNode Systems has signed a joint-development agreement with Merck’s AZ Electronic Materials to commercialize graphene-based materials for lithium- ion batteries. The two companies will develop electrode materials that deliver high energy density and improved rate capabilities – to enable Li-Ion batteries that last longer and charge faster.

HyCarb
www.hycarbinc.com

THE COMPANY
HyCarb Inc. develops hyper graphene supercapacitors & batteries.
THE TECHNOLOGY
HyCarb has signed an exclusive license agreement with UCF for a patented and patent-pending carbon nanotube material, developed by UCF nanotechnology researcher Lei Zhai. HyCarb is developing the licensed technology as a key component in the creation of energy storage and advanced sensor prototypes.

Silexta Inc.
www.silexta.com

THE COMPANY
Silexta has developed nanostructured Si anodes that have the potential to dramatically increase the capacity of a Li-ion battery.

THE TECHNOLOGY
The company are seeking to manufacturing a high capacity silicon nanowire anode for Li-ion battery applications. Their nanostructured anodes show discharge capacities several times that of graphite anodes.

pH Matter
www.phmatter.com

THE COMPANY
pH Matter is developing nanostructured non-precious metal electrodes based on carbon nanofibers.
TECHNOLOGY
The company is developing nanostructured non-precious metal electrodes based on carbon nanofibers. The production process is based on a unique patent-pending manufacturing route that allows the nanostructured carbon to be produced more economically than conventional routes. The process allows for materials with better performance than conventional electrodes that can be manufactured at a fraction of the cost reducing the cost of battery, fuel cell, and electrolysis technologies enabling the adoption of more efficient and higher performing means of energy storage and use.

Lumisyn LLC
www.lumisynqd.com

THE COMPANYTHE COMPANYThe company are developing cadmium-free nanomaterials for on-chip LED and display applicationsTHE TECHNOLOGYNovel InP-based quantum dots, which have outstanding optical performance, into a form suitable for usage by the LED and lighting fixture industries. The InP-based nano-phosphors have the advantages of quantum dots, namely, negligible optical scattering, emission range throughout the visible spectrum, and narrow spectral width, but also maintain high efficiency under the extreme operating conditions of the LEDs. This technology will enable white LEDs to produce significantly better quality light at up to 30% higher efficiencies enabling faster market adoption of LED lighting at a lower overall cost to the end consumer due to their higher efficiencies.

 

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