Engineered nanomaterials in energy production industry

VAZQUEZ, CECILIA IRENE; IGLESIAS, RODRIGO ALEJANDRO

Handbook of Nanomaterials for Industrial Applications

Elsevier

Año: 2018; p. 713 - 723

According to the International Energy Outlook 2016 (IEO2016) there will be a 48% increase in the worldwide energy demand over the period from 2012 to 2040. Currently, over the 80% of the energy consumption is covered by fossil fuel sources and the 13.5% by nuclear industry. However, these energy sources are non-renewable and, especially in the case of oil, is the main cause of the greenhouse effect and has a significant impact in soil, water and air pollution. Hence, it becomes clear that in the future the global energy supply can be only be guaranteed by the increased use of efficient and sustainable energy production, conversion, distribution, storage and usage. In order to improve the performance in each link of this chain of energy, nanotechnology could play an important role in solving the problem, because, as a multidisciplinary science, it can be applied in the enhancement in the efficiency of conventional energy sources as in low-emission and renewable alternatives. Nanoscience and nanotechnology is the study and application of structures and materials on the scale of nanometers, between 1-100 nm, where the physical and chemical properties such as thermal an electrical conductivity, melting point, catalytic activity, hardness, etc. are different compared to the bulk material. Currently, nanomaterials can be produced from a wide variety of compounds with different properties and applications: composites, oxides, ceramics, carbon, polymers, metals and alloys. The application of nanotechnology in the energy industry field involves solar cells, fuel cells, catalysts for hydrogen generation, superconductors, supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries and light emitting diodes (LEDs), among others. Therefore, nanotechnology research and application is key in the development of an efficient sustainable energy supply with the goal of a lower production cost and easier implementation. The aim of these chapter is to present the most significant recent progress and application of engineered nanomaterials in the energy sector.