This presentation focuses on nanomaterials as applied in renewable energy. Broadly the talk will look at the interest in nanomaterials investment within the energy sector & how nanomaterials can impact on the energy value chain. We look at three renewable technologies in a bit more detail and the roll played by nanomaterials within them, focusing on batteries, fuel cells and solar cells. We will look at some of the critical parameters within nanomaterials for energy and focus on a range of different sizing techniques and finally complete a comparison of them. This is a shortened version of the presentation. A recording of the original webinar can be found here: bit.ly/MInanoenergy

1. Meeting global energy needs
- how nanomaterials can change the world
By
Ciarán C. Murphy
Head of Product Management , Malvern Instruments
June 2014

2. Contents
› Why the interest in energy nanomaterials investment?
› Nanomaterials energy value chain
› Technology developments and characterization challenges
 Batteries
 Fuel cells
 Solar cells
› Nanomaterial characterization techniques

3. Energy drivers
› Increased energy use & depletion of
fossil resources
› Move to cleaner energy solutions
"We will have to get that additional energy from
sources other than hydrocarbons — and
nanotechnology holds the answer"
› Mitigate security of supply issues
› Storage of energy
› Demand of consumer electronics

4. Energy production and consumption trends
Source: US Energy Information Administration 2012

5. Nanomaterials used within the Energy sector
Source: Future Markets Inc.

6. Nanomaterials (Energy) growth to 2016 ($M)
Source: Future Markets Inc

7. Energy value chain
› Nanomaterials offer great promise for renewable
energy technologies
› Energy sources
 Photovoltaics
› Energy change
 Fuel cells
› Energy distribution
 CNT power lines
› Energy storage
 Batteries
› Energy usage
 Thermal insulation
German chemicals producer Wacker has
developed flexible solar cells

8. Nanomaterial applications
Source: Hessen-nanotech

9. Solar cells
› Estimated market size for Nanomaterials
 2015: $630 million
 2020: $1.8 billion
› Nanomaterials utilsed in PV cells
 Semiconducting polymers and oligomers
 Conducting nanomaterials
 Metal oxides
› Nanomaterials find applications as
 Nanostructured thin film layers
 Graphene electrodes
 TiO2 nanoparticles in dye solar cells
 Quantum dots for bandgap tuning
 ZnO for transparent conductors (shown)
Image courtesy NREL
Image: courtesy Sandia National Laboratories

10. Battery market potential
› Market potential
 2010 ($10bn) to 2020 ($60bn)
› Market drivers
 Cell phones, digital products, cars, etc
› Needs
 Store and supply more electricity and
increased range
› Li-ion batteries
 Higher energy density
 Good low temperature performance
 Long shelf life
› Nanomaterials in development
 Carbon nanotube electrode
 Lithium air carbon
 Lithium Silicon
 Sulfur-graphene oxide
 Germanium oxide used in anode
applications

11. Fuel cells
› Expected in medium and long term to
replace a large part of the current
combustion systems
 Higher efficiency
 Lower pollution levels
 Potential cost levels
› In the next decade ~ $100bn spent on
fuel cell technology
› Nanomaterials in fuel cells
 SOFC enhancing ion conductivity
 PEM enhancing temperature stability

12. Nanomaterials characterization
› Nanomaterials critical parameters
 Sizing
• Increased surface area for interaction
• Reducing cathode and anode spacing
 Polydispersity
• Robustness in performance
 Formulation stability
• Shelf prior to application / usage
 Concentration
› Nanomaterial characterization techniques
 Dynamic Light Scattering / Electrophorectic Light
Scattering
 Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis
 Resonant Mass Measurement

13. Summary of techniques
Technique Size range Resolution Speed of
analysis
Concentration
DLS 1 nm to 1 µm Moderate Very fast High
Nanoparticle
tracking
analysis
(NTA)
30 nm to 1 µm Good Fast Medium
Resonant
mass
measurement
(RMM)
50 nm to 1 µm
or
300 nm to 5 µm
Excellent Slow Low

14. Further details:
Ciaran.murphy@malvern.com
www.malvern.com
Please visit bit.ly/MInanoenergy to view a
recording of the complete version of this
presentation, with more in-depth discussion of
characterization techniques.