Functional Nanomaterials For

Renewable Energy
➢Instructor: Dr. Ghulam Ali
➢Email: ali@uspcase.nust.edu.pk
 Nanomaterials
• Nanomaterials describe, in principle, materials of which a single unit
is sized (in at least one dimension) between 1 to 100 nanometres.
• Materials with structure at the nanoscale often have unique optical,
electronic, or mechanical properties
• The fabrication of sub-micron to nanoscale materials depend on the
reaction, assembly and growth of metal atoms, clusters or molecules
to form one dimensional (1-D), two dimensional (2-D) or three
dimensional (3-D) materials. Sub-micron to nanoscale materials are
characterized by their sizes and number of dimensions.
• A functional nanomaterial is a compound that at least presents one
dimension (length, height, width) in the nanometer scale and has
been post-processed either chemically or physically to provide
specific properties, like solubility, wetability, fluroescence, strength,
ductility, which the raw material did not exhibit
Another factor that highly influences the properties of the nanomaterial is its shape and
structure
Electrical, chemical and optical properties remain almost the same for a bulk
material, but when the material is reduced to sub-micron to nanoscale
regime (1-500 nm), these properties are highly influenced by the size of the
material and hence these properties can be tuned due to their size
dependence
 Size Dependence
There are two main factors responsible for the dependence of material properties on
its size;
• Electronic band structure quantization
• surface to volume ratio (corresponds to the atoms residing on the surface).
➢ As the size is reduced, electronic band quantization and surface to volume ratio
increases, thereby, influencing the physio-chemical properties of submicron to
nanoscale materials.
➢ The atoms in the bulk are less energetic than the atoms on the surface because
atoms in bulk have higher coordination number and are strongly bound to the
lattice as compared to atoms on the surface.
➢ For example, the melting temperature of bulk metal materials is higher than that
of their sub-micron to nanoscale counterparts. This is because with the decrease
in size, surface to volume ratio increases, thereby, increasing the surface tension
due to the presence of high energy surface atoms. This favors the conversion of
solid into liquid phase hence, lowering the melting temperature
 Electronic Band Quantization
Schematic illustration of change in band
structure. Formation of discrete energy levels
in submicron to nanoscale materials on
structure quantization.
The valence band (VB) and conduction
band (CB) of solids are akin to the
HOMO (highest occupied molecular
orbital) and LUMO (lowest unoccupied
molecular orbital) of a molecule.
The VB is the highest occupied
electronic state of the material and the
CB is the next available state for the
electron after valence band is totally
filled
The energy difference between the
empty CB and a filled VB is called the
band gap (Eg) of the material.
As the material is scaled down from bulk
to sub-micron to nanoscale size, a
corresponding change in electronic
energy level spacing occurs
For example, modifying the structure of CdS
nanoparticles can lead to the tuning of
electronic structure of material.
By maneuvering the size of CdS nanoparticles
from 2-5 nm, the band gap could be adjusted
from 4.5 to 2.5 eV
Surface Engineering
• Surface engineering is the sub-dicipline of materials
science which deals with the surface of solids
• Solids are composed of bulk materials covered by
surface. The surface which bounds the bulk material
is called surface phase
• The surface phase of a solid interacts with the
surrounding environment which may degrade it over
the time
• Surface engineering involves altering the properties
of the surface phase in order to reduce the
degradation over time.
• This is accomplished by making the surface robust to
the environment in which it will be used.
• Surface engineering refers to wide range of
technology designated to modify the surface
properties of metallic and non-metallic components
for decorative or functional purpose.
• e.g. improving corrosion and wear resistance to
extend component life
Surface Engineering
Surface Engineering
Applications
• Electrically Functional Materials: electrical
conductors, contacts, semiconductor films, active solid
state devices, photovoltaics, etc.
• Mechanically and Chemically Functional
Materials: Tribological coatings, lubrication films,
nanocomposites, diffusion barriers, wear and corrosion
resistant coatings, organic materials etc. e.g For motor
parts, no oxide/sulphide formations
Applications
Optically functional materials: Architectural glaze,
residential mirrors, automotive rear-view mirrors,
reflective and anti-reflection coatings, optically absorbing
materials, solar selective coatings, transparent conductive
films. E.g. to filter UV rays and let other parts of light
through material, laser optics: transmits some laser inside
material or reflect some from surface. Changing properties
can train material to act differently.

Thin film battery, thin film fuel cell, thin film solar cell,
thermoelectric thin films, superlattics, electrocharomatic
coatings, solar absorbers, barrier coatings (oxygen and
water permeation barriers) transparent solar cells, organic
solar cells, photocatalytic coatings.
Material Science and its Application

Photovoltaic Gas Turbines: High Voltage Batteries Thermal Insulation

-Nano optimized cells -Coatings for heat and Transmission LIB based on Nanoporous foams and
-Polymeric corrosion protection of -Nanofiller for nanostructured gels for thermal
-Quantum dot turbine blades electrical isolation electrodes insulation
-Thin film solar cells system Ceramic separators
-Dye sensitized Thermoelectrics -Soft magnetic Smart Windows
-Antireflection coatings -Nanostructured materials for efficient Super Capacitors Specialized materials
compounds (interface, current transformer Materials for electrodes for electrochromic
Wind power design, nanorods) for like CNT, metal oxides devices and transparent
-Composites for lighter efficient thermoelectric Super conductor Electrolytes for high heaters
and stronger rotor power generation Nanoscale interface energy density
blades design of high Lightening
-Corrosion and wear Fuel Cells temperature SC for loss Hydrogen: Efficient lightening
protection coatings -Optimized membranes less power transmission nanoporous Materials systems using LED and
-Nano coatings for and electrodes for for application in micro OLED
strength efficient fuel cells. CNT Power Lines fuel cells
SC based on CNT Light weight
Fossil Fuel power lines construction
-Wear and corrosion Nano composites and
protection of oil and gas other
drilling Equipment Composite materials
Materials for Wind Energy
➢ Material Requirements
• High material’s stiffness is needed to
maintain optimal aerodynamic
performance,
• Low density is needed to reduce gravity
forces and improve efficiency,
• Long-fatigue life is needed to reduce
material degradation – 20 year life = 108-
109 cycles.
Wind Turbine blades cross scetion
Materials for Wind Energy
➢ DRIVERS FOR COMPOSITES IN THE WIND MARKET
• Longer and lighter blades
• Increased blade performance
• Development of low-wind and off-shore turbines
• Cost-of-energy reduction
• Repowering and extension of service life
➢ High performance fibers and fabrics enable wind blade root Carbon Fibre Blades
joint durability
➢ Fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) are widely used for
blades
• Lightweight
• Excellent mechanical properties
➢ Commonly used fiber reinforcements are glass and carbon

Glass Fiber vs. Carbon Fiber

Glass Fiber Carbon Fiber
• Adequate Strength • Superior mechanical properties
• High failure strain • Low density
• High density • High cost (produced from PAN)
• Low cost Woven Fibres for Rotor Blades