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By Sean Johnston (/articles?author=58a8fab1e58c62fa406b424c)

Materials for the ages

(/articles/issue-19/materials-for-
the-ages)
February 20, 2017 (/articles/issue-19/materials-for-the-ages) · Society & Education
(/articles/category/Society+%26+Education), Issue 19 (/articles/category/Issue+19)

HUMAN PROGRESS HAS LONG BEEN DENOTED BY THE DOMINANT MATERIAL OF THE PERIOD.
WILL WE SOON BE LIVING IN THE NANOMATERIAL AGE?  

(https://www.flickr.com/photos/nihgov/28432767823/)
This nano-vaccine can stimulate an anti-tumour response in patients with cancer. Brenda Melendez and Rita Serda, NIH Image Gallery/Flickr
(https://www.flickr.com/photos/nihgov/28432767823/) (CC BY-NC 2.0)

The kind of material used by a society has often served as a yardstick for how developed
that society is. From the stone wheel to the iPhone, a bronze axe to a Boeing 747, materials
technology has been our constant companion throughout the millennia, and a driving force
for continued progress and societal change. Now it is believed that we may be on the cusp
of another great materials revolution, this time powered by nanotechnology. With
implications for fields ranging from clean energy to medicine, nanotechnology has the
potential to have far-reaching impacts on many aspects of our lives, and may earn itself
naming rights to the next age in the process.

Sticks and stones and metals

During the Stone Age, our ancestors used natural materials such as animal skins, plant
fibres and, of course, stones. These materials were our bread and butter before bread or
butter, until humans began to experiment with metalwork. Copper, alloyed with a bit of tin,
had such superior properties to stone implements that if a society failed to use the new
/
material, they found themselves in danger of being conquered. Thus, the Bronze Age was
born. Bronze had its heyday for millennia, until bronze itself was surpassed by another
stronger, more versatile metal. Further advancement in metalwork allowed the production of
iron tools and weapons, followed by ones crafted from steel. These implements were
stronger and sharper than their bronze counterparts, without a significant increase in
weight. There is actually some contention among historians about what constitutes the end
of the Iron Age. A common demarcation uses an increase in the survival of written histories
(http://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/link-suggestion/wpcd_2008-
09_augmented/wp/i/Iron_Age.htm), which reduced the burden previously placed on
archaeology. However, some believe the Iron Age may have never really ended
(http://www.essential-humanities.net/history-overview/stone-bronze-iron-ages/) as iron and
steel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel) still play a substantial role in contemporary
society (http://www.vaclavsmil.com/still-the-iron-age-iron-and-steel-in-the-modern-world/).

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/History_of_Inventions_USNM_35_Tools_for_Metal_Workin
Tools from the Stone age (left) gave way to those required for metal work in the Bronze and Iron ages
(above). Patrick Gray/Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/136041510@N05/22311549079/) (CC BY 2.0) and
Wikimedia Commons
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:History_of_Inventions_USNM_35_Tools_for_Metal_Working.jpg) (public
domain)

While naming time periods after their defining material has fallen somewhat out of vogue,
the progression of society is still driven by advances in materials science and technology.

The industrial revolution, globalisation and the information age

Coal and the steam engine literally and figuratively fuelled the industrial revolution,
moulding us into our modern consumer culture. Before the industrial revolution, a high
percentage of the population had to farm the land to provide enough food for everyone to
survive. Mechanised farming practices reduced the burden on manpower, while also
producing higher yields. As a result, few farmers were required to feed the growing urban
populace. This freed up large sections of the population to pursue work in other fields, such
as manufacturing, commerce and research. The importance of this transition is still evident
today, including our tendency to group countries based on how industrialised
(http://www.cfr.org/international-organizations-and-alliances/group-eight-g8-industrialized-
nations/p10647) they are.

Advances in lightweight materials, such as composites and light metals,

facilitated the development of aircraft that fly us around an ever-shrinking globe,
and allowed us to be propelled beyond our planet’s life-supporting atmosphere. In
the final decades of the 20th century, the world got even smaller following the
rapid development of silicon processing chips and personal electronics. The

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revolutionary impact these silicon products have had on modern society can’t be
overstated. Indeed, this article was written, and is likely being read, on devices
powered by what is effectively processed sand.

Much to the chagrin of silicon atoms everywhere, we are not currently in the silicon age, but
the information or digital age (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_Age). However, we
are likely on the verge of another significant advance in materials technology.

The promises of the nanotechnology age

Scientists have been heralding the Nano Age, proclaiming “nanotechnology will become the
most powerful tool the human species has ever used (http://www.thenanoage.com/)”. This
is engineering on an atomic scale, the stuff of science fiction only decades ago. Now, some
experts believe nanotechnology will prove to be the foundation of our wildest dreams
(http://www.thenanoage.com/) (or darkest nightmares
(http://www.rense.com/general79/nano.htm)).

While such claims may seem sensational or outlandish, the inherent potential of
nanotechnology is apparent in current research. The University of Queensland (UQ) boasts a
nanomaterials research centre with a multidisciplinary team that is working to implement
nanomaterials in three key research areas: energy, environment and health
(http://www.nanomac.uq.edu.au/). If there can be consensus about issues that are integral
to the survival of humanity, the shortlist must surely include these three.

Professor Lianzhou Wang is the director (http://www.nanomac.uq.edu.au/index.html?

page=213617&pid=178416) of the UQ Nanomaterials Centre, and his work is focused on the
first two areas: energy and environment. Prof Wang’s group aims to use nanomaterials to
improve the efficiency of solar cells. Due to Australia’s abundant sunshine, the country has a
vested interest and solid track record in solar cell research
(http://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/milestone-solar-cell-efficiency-unsw-
engineers). However, much of that research focuses on improving the efficiency of solar
cells, and usually involves increasingly expensive materials and manufacturing techniques.
Prof Wang has a more egalitarian approach and is focused on developing renewable energy
technology that will be more accessible to the population at large. In his lab, nanomaterials
such as metal oxides (http://nanopartikel.info/en/nanoinfo/materials/titanium-dioxide) and
quantum dots (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_dot) are used to create cheap,
efficient solar cells with the hope of encouraging more widespread utilisation of this green
power source. 

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel#/media/File:SoSie%2BSoSchiff_Ansicht.jpg)
Solar panels on rooftops allow residents to take advantage of the Australian sun. Wikimedia Commons
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel#/media/File:SoSie%2BSoSchiff_Ansicht.jpg) (public domain)

/
Using nanotechnology, Prof Wang’s group can make solar cells that are cheaper than
currently available commercial silicon and thin film solar cells. They are able to do this
because nanomaterials have a much lower processing temperature than conventional
materials, which corresponds to a decrease in manufacturing costs. Nanomaterials also
impart flexibility during processing and design, as they can be printed on both flexible and
rigid substrates.

“This is where nanomaterials can play a role: performance, of course, but also cost,” said
Prof Wang. By reducing the cost of the solar cells, he hopes to lower the barrier to entry of
the market and thereby introduce the technology to a greater proportion of the population.
In the case of nanotechnology, it turns out that less really is more.

(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RDECOM_solar_panels,_Djibouti,_May_2011_(5729619712).jpg)
Flexible solar panels have greater utility than their rigid counterparts, and can be used in a wider variety of
scenarios, such as on tents. Wikimedia Commons
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:RDECOM_solar_panels,_Djibouti,_May_2011_(5729619712).jpg) (public
domain)

However, not content to call that a good day’s work, Prof Wang is also working toward a
solution for another issue plaguing the green energy sector: power storage. Although not
particularly nuanced, a common argument against green energies asks what happens when
the sun isn’t shining or the wind isn’t blowing. As frustratingly reductive as this may seem, it
still presents a serious challenge. The uptake of green energy sources, including solar, is
severely limited by inadequate or expensive batteries. The inability to easily and effectively
store unused power for a rainy day (pardon the pun) is a limiting factor for many renewable
energy technologies.

In an effort to address this issue many research groups, including Prof Wang’s, intend to
improve batteries with nanotechnology. As with solar cells, the advantage stems from their
increased surface area. Nanoparticles, particularly nanocrystallites, have a higher surface
area ratio than conventional battery materials, which allows shorter ion diffusion length and
faster charge transfer. This not only increases the storage capacity of the battery, but also
reduces charging time. Using this technique, Prof Wang’s group believe they have developed
new cathode materials for lithium ion batteries
(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/284113252_Understanding_the_Origin_of_Li_2_
MnO_3_Activation_in_Li-Rich_Cathode_Materials_for_Lithium-Ion_Batteries) that would
potentially improve the mileage of electric cars from 450km/charge to 600-700km. “This is
an increase of almost a third, and will make these cars competitive with most petrol-
powered cars,” said Prof Wang.

/
 (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Green_Tesla_Model_S_at_Muir_Woods_trimmed.jpg)
Electric cars such as the Tesla model S are only as good as their battery life, and nanomaterials have the potential
to extend driving time on one charge. Wikimedia Commons
(https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Green_Tesla_Model_S_at_Muir_Woods_trimmed.jpg) (public domain)

Exploring how to harness nanomaterials for the betterment of the environment is

another key research area for the UQ nanomaterials group. There are a variety of
ways nanomaterials can assist in environmental management
(https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/07/5-ways-nanotechnology-can-tackle-
climate-change/), but artificial photosynthesis is arguably one of the most
innovative. Using nanoparticles as a photoactive catalyst, carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere reacts with water to produce by-products including carbon monoxide,
methane and hydrogen gas. Prof Wang sums up how remarkable this is: “We can
not only remove the CO2 from the atmosphere, we [also] get something useful in
the process.” All of the by-products mentioned (carbon monoxide
(http://phys.org/news/2004-08-method-capture-carbon-monoxide-energy.html),
methane (http://breakingenergy.com/2013/12/10/renewables-and-natural-gas-
are-partners-not-opponents/) and hydrogen
(http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/hydrogen/tech.html)) are potential fuel or
power sources. Consequently, artificial photosynthesis not only provides a useful
tool for combating climate change, it also generates alternative fuel sources in the
process.

Finally, nanotechnology may also prove useful for health applications in fields as diverse as
targeted drug delivery (http://www.understandingnano.com/nanotechnology-drug-
delivery.html), gene therapy (http://inbt.jhu.edu/2013/08/06/nanotechnology-for-gene-
therapy/), diagnostics (http://www.understandingnano.com/nanotechnology-medical-
diagnosis.html) and tissue engineering (https://www.crcpress.com/Nanotechnology-in-
Tissue-Engineering-and-Regenerative-Medicine/Popat/p/book/9781439801413),
demonstrating its broad potential in medicine. It is thought by some that nanotechnology
may hold the key to curing cancer
(https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/jun/11/nanotechnology-research-
potential-cure-cancer-genetic-level) at the genetic level, while also providing insights about
immortality (http://www.computerworld.com/article/2528330/app-development/nanotech-
could-make-humans-immortal-by-2040--futurist-says.html).

Whether the next great age of humanity is officially labelled the Nano Age or not,
nanotechnology will almost certainly play an instrumental role in future innovations and will
shape societies for decades to come. Whether it be tackling cancer or climate change, it
appears that anything is possible, if we just think small enough.

Edited by Ena Music

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