FRIDAY FEATURE: Nanomaterials for Smart Applications for Energy

Interview by Nanoposts.com with Dr. Ir. Jaap Vente
www.ecn.nl/eei

1. What is the benefit of using nanomaterials in your area for smart applications? Why are they being investigated?

The nanomaterials that we are developing and investigating are nanoporous selective membrane materials. The main incentive is the anticipated reduction of energy consuming processes such as the separation of hydrocarbons: close boilers, olefin-paraffin, isomers etc, dehydration of organic solvent, and ammonia from the synthesis loop.

2. What are generally seen as the most promising nanomaterials for your area?

The most promising material depends very much on the specific application: thin films (<200nm) of  nanoporous amorphous metal oxides especially SiO2, ZrO2, and TiO2, or organic-inorganic hybrids. Alternatively, the expectations of zeolites and other crystalline nanoporous materials are still very high.

3. What factors do you envisage that will allow for the transition from concept to product for smart materials enabled by nanotechnology?

I do not expect the cost of the nanomaterials to be the main issue, it is only part of the full installation. From a membrane perspective the module, pumps, membrane supports etc are expected to be the main cost factors. The total amount of nanomaterial, albeit being the active component, is next to nothing!  

4. Why do you think applications are anticipated in the next 3-10 years for nano enabled smart materials, when it is generally at a very early stage?

Nanomaterials are not as new as stated. Molsieves are taking over the role silica gels to provide a dry atmosphere in the lab, and I guess many applications are already in place.

For certain membrane applications, all the enabling technologies are already available. Market introduction can be fast once the main issues of chemical stability and scalability of the nanoporous separating layer to thousands of square meters have been solved. We believe that this should be within reach, at least for a number applications, within a few years. A critical obstacle may still be the unwillingness of the (petro)chemical industry to embrace a radically different technology