Norton
Cutting-edge Discoveries: Transforming Lives, Fueling the Economy Fall 2006 Series
The Innovators Nanotechnology: The Power to Fuel an Energy Revolution M. Grant Norton, Ph.D. Herman and Brita Lindholm Endowed Chair and Professor School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Programs College of Engineering and Architecture
Context Example 1 - Hydrogen storage Example 2 - Catalysis Example 3 - Solar energy conversion Conclusions
12
1400
10
1200
World Population
1000
8
800
6 World Energy Consumption
4
400 Population of Industrialized Countries
2 0 1900
600
1950
2000
2050
200
0 2100
Energy Consumption (Qbtu / yr)
Population (Billions)
This is the challenge!
Year Energy Projections: “Global Energy Perspectives” ITASA / WEC Population Projections: United Nations “Long-Range World Population Projections: Based on the 1998 Revision”
Inevitable Transition to New Energy Technologies 19th Century 1800s
20th Century 1900s
21st Century 2000 & beyond
Direct, wood, wind, water, animals Steam Engine – Coal 1830-1940 Electric Dynamo – Coal 1900-1940 Internal Combustion Engine-Oil 1910-1970 Nuclear 1970-1990 Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine 1990
Fuel Cell Hydrogen Direct Electric Solar Advanced Biobased Technologies Zero Energy Homes
The Role of Nanotechnology “Innovations in nanotechnology and other advances in materials science would make it possible to transform our vision of plentiful, low-cost energy into a reality” Richard E. Smalley, 1996 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (June 2005) “Technology helps and good ideas spread -- these are two laws of nature” Mr. Patel speaking to his wife in The Life of Pi, Yann Martel, Harcourt, Orlando (2001)
1 atom
1 nanometer
The Hydrogen Economy Hydrogen Production
Hydrogen Storage
Hydrogen Conversion
From: Fossil fuels Biomass Water
Either: Chemically Physically
To: Electricity Heat
Energy Stream
H2
H2 O
The research needs of the hydrogen economy are quintessentially “nano” • Catalysis • Hydrogen storage • Electrodes for fuel cells All depend on nanoscale processes and architectures
US Department of Energy (2003)
The Transportation Challenge Effective Storage is Key • Enough hydrogen for 300 miles (480 km) -- about 5-10 kg of useable hydrogen • Charge/recharge near room temperature • Quick uptake and release (refueling in 5 minutes) • None of the current approaches is close to meeting targets
Our Approach • Attach molecular hydrogen to the surface of nanomaterials through weak surface-molecular bonds Our Material • One dimensional nanostructured glass “springs”
1D Silica Nanostructures
A mat of SiO2 nanowires
SiO2 nanocoils
SiO2 nanosprings
These are silica glass - this is the surface of the space shuttle tiles. 200 nanosprings could fit in each fiber.
What is a Glass? A crystal Order
A glass Disorder
How Do We Know H2 Attaches? • We measure shifts in binding energy
More H2 in system
• We form a monolayer (one molecule thick) of H2 on surface • Additional layers then form on top (coadsorption) This is unique to this system • The H2 bonds only to the silicon • It goes on at 25°C • It comes off at 100°C • This is better than any current alternative Si 2p XPS spectra
• How much goes on? More than 5% (gravimetric) More than 70% (volumetric)
Need to go from the nanoscale to the macroscale This can be achieved by forming the nanosprings on polymers (plastics), which can be produced cheaply in complex 3D shapes, e.g., a honeycomb Fill the channels with nanosprings
Nanoparticle Catalysts Catalysts are central to energy conversion An example is the water gas shift reaction for H2 production
CO + H2O
CO2 + H2
“Water Splitting” Reaction rate as a function of nanoparticle size Gold is only catalytically active at sizes < 10 nm
Nanoparticle Gold is Particularly Exciting
1350 BCE Inert
2006 Potent catalyst
Nanoparticle Gold is Not New ‘Purple of Cassius’ after Andreas Cassius • 1685 • Color is due to small gold particles
Lycurgus Cup • Rome 4th Century • Dichroic — color due to colloidal gold and silver Reflected light
Transmitted light
1D Nanostructures as Catalyst Supports
T = 573 K
T = 723 K
40
70
35
60
T = 873 K 20 18 16
30
50
14
20
Frequency
Frequency
Frequency
25
40
30
12 10 8
15
6
20 10
4 10
2
5
0
0
0 0-3.0
3.5-4.0
4.5-5.0
5.5-6.0
6.5-7.0
Particle Diameter (nm)
7.5-8.0
8.5-9.0
9.0+
1.0
0-
1.5
.0
-2
2.5
-3
.0
3.5
.0
-4
4.5
.0
-5
5.5
.0 -6
6.5
.0
-7
Particle Diameter (nm)
7.5
.0
-8
8.5
.0
-9
9.5
0.0
-1
.5+ 10
.0
0-2
2.5
-3.
0
3.5
-4.
0
4.5
-5.
0
5.5
-6.
0
6.5
-7.
0
7.5
-8.
0
8.5
-9.
0 9.5
-10
.0
.510
.0 .0 .0 .0 .0 11 12 13 14 15 .5 .5.5.511 12 13 14
Particle Diameter (nm)
.5+ 15
Small particles are cubeoctahedra Significant fraction of atoms occupy surface sites —not all surface sites are equal Example: C=O groups preferentially activated on {111} surfaces; C=C activated at corner and edge sites For 3 nm cubeoctahedron: • Corner atoms 5% Edge atoms
25%
• {100} faces
60%
10%
{111} faces
Solar Energy • Sunlight provides by far the largest of all carbon-neutral energy sources • Solar energy striking the Earth in one hour 4.3 x 1020 J • Energy consumed on planet in one year 4.1 x 1020 J • Solar energy provides less than 0.1% of world’s electricity
Solar Energy Systems
Intensity [a. u.]
Nanomaterials may have vital role in improving energy efficiency of solar cells • Efficiency of conventional solar cells limited by absorption range • Metal nanoparticles have the potential to harvest more of the sun’s energy • Ease of fabrication • Scale-up Planck distribution for 1.0
6000K (simulation of solar radiation)
0.8
Absorption of the polymer-metal nanocomposite with a metal concentration of about 45%
0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 500
Ag nanoparticles in Teflon AF
1000
1500
Wavelength (nm)
2000
2500
Active Nanosystems for Solar Energy Conversion Glass
Sample
1
2
3
4
Gold Wires
Take a mat of semiconducting nanowires (Gallium nitride)
Deposit metal nanoparticles
sample
Glass
Build a device
Glass Sapphire Gold Wire Nanowires
Other Approaches Using Nanomaterials Dye-sensitized Nanocrystalline Solar Cell
Energy Research — Connecting the Pieces • • • • • • •
Nanomaterials “Green” architecture Bioenergy Solar cells Energy harvesting Energy efficiency Fuel cells Washington State University has strengths in all these areas ⎯ our approach is to coordinate these activities with public policy and outreach to address this grandest of the “grand challenges.”
The Innovators Nanotechnology: The Power to Fuel an Energy Revolution M. Grant Norton, Ph.D. Herman and Brita Lindholm Endowed Chair and Professor School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering Associate Dean of Research and Graduate Programs College of Engineering and Architecture
Context Example 1 - Hydrogen storage Example 2 - Catalysis Example 3 - Solar energy conversion Conclusions
12
1400
10
1200
World Population
1000
8
800
6 World Energy Consumption
4
400 Population of Industrialized Countries
2 0 1900
600
1950
2000
2050
200
0 2100
Energy Consumption (Qbtu / yr)
Population (Billions)
This is the challenge!
Year Energy Projections: “Global Energy Perspectives” ITASA / WEC Population Projections: United Nations “Long-Range World Population Projections: Based on the 1998 Revision”
Inevitable Transition to New Energy Technologies 19th Century 1800s
20th Century 1900s
21st Century 2000 & beyond
Direct, wood, wind, water, animals Steam Engine – Coal 1830-1940 Electric Dynamo – Coal 1900-1940 Internal Combustion Engine-Oil 1910-1970 Nuclear 1970-1990 Combined-Cycle Gas Turbine 1990
Fuel Cell Hydrogen Direct Electric Solar Advanced Biobased Technologies Zero Energy Homes
The Role of Nanotechnology “Innovations in nanotechnology and other advances in materials science would make it possible to transform our vision of plentiful, low-cost energy into a reality” Richard E. Smalley, 1996 Nobel Laureate in Chemistry (June 2005) “Technology helps and good ideas spread -- these are two laws of nature” Mr. Patel speaking to his wife in The Life of Pi, Yann Martel, Harcourt, Orlando (2001)
1 atom
1 nanometer
The Hydrogen Economy Hydrogen Production
Hydrogen Storage
Hydrogen Conversion
From: Fossil fuels Biomass Water
Either: Chemically Physically
To: Electricity Heat
Energy Stream
H2
H2 O
The research needs of the hydrogen economy are quintessentially “nano” • Catalysis • Hydrogen storage • Electrodes for fuel cells All depend on nanoscale processes and architectures
US Department of Energy (2003)
The Transportation Challenge Effective Storage is Key • Enough hydrogen for 300 miles (480 km) -- about 5-10 kg of useable hydrogen • Charge/recharge near room temperature • Quick uptake and release (refueling in 5 minutes) • None of the current approaches is close to meeting targets
Our Approach • Attach molecular hydrogen to the surface of nanomaterials through weak surface-molecular bonds Our Material • One dimensional nanostructured glass “springs”
1D Silica Nanostructures
A mat of SiO2 nanowires
SiO2 nanocoils
SiO2 nanosprings
These are silica glass - this is the surface of the space shuttle tiles. 200 nanosprings could fit in each fiber.
What is a Glass? A crystal Order
A glass Disorder
How Do We Know H2 Attaches? • We measure shifts in binding energy
More H2 in system
• We form a monolayer (one molecule thick) of H2 on surface • Additional layers then form on top (coadsorption) This is unique to this system • The H2 bonds only to the silicon • It goes on at 25°C • It comes off at 100°C • This is better than any current alternative Si 2p XPS spectra
• How much goes on? More than 5% (gravimetric) More than 70% (volumetric)
Need to go from the nanoscale to the macroscale This can be achieved by forming the nanosprings on polymers (plastics), which can be produced cheaply in complex 3D shapes, e.g., a honeycomb Fill the channels with nanosprings
Nanoparticle Catalysts Catalysts are central to energy conversion An example is the water gas shift reaction for H2 production
CO + H2O
CO2 + H2
“Water Splitting” Reaction rate as a function of nanoparticle size Gold is only catalytically active at sizes < 10 nm
Nanoparticle Gold is Particularly Exciting
1350 BCE Inert
2006 Potent catalyst
Nanoparticle Gold is Not New ‘Purple of Cassius’ after Andreas Cassius • 1685 • Color is due to small gold particles
Lycurgus Cup • Rome 4th Century • Dichroic — color due to colloidal gold and silver Reflected light
Transmitted light
1D Nanostructures as Catalyst Supports
T = 573 K
T = 723 K
40
70
35
60
T = 873 K 20 18 16
30
50
14
20
Frequency
Frequency
Frequency
25
40
30
12 10 8
15
6
20 10
4 10
2
5
0
0
0 0-3.0
3.5-4.0
4.5-5.0
5.5-6.0
6.5-7.0
Particle Diameter (nm)
7.5-8.0
8.5-9.0
9.0+
1.0
0-
1.5
.0
-2
2.5
-3
.0
3.5
.0
-4
4.5
.0
-5
5.5
.0 -6
6.5
.0
-7
Particle Diameter (nm)
7.5
.0
-8
8.5
.0
-9
9.5
0.0
-1
.5+ 10
.0
0-2
2.5
-3.
0
3.5
-4.
0
4.5
-5.
0
5.5
-6.
0
6.5
-7.
0
7.5
-8.
0
8.5
-9.
0 9.5
-10
.0
.510
.0 .0 .0 .0 .0 11 12 13 14 15 .5 .5.5.511 12 13 14
Particle Diameter (nm)
.5+ 15
Small particles are cubeoctahedra Significant fraction of atoms occupy surface sites —not all surface sites are equal Example: C=O groups preferentially activated on {111} surfaces; C=C activated at corner and edge sites For 3 nm cubeoctahedron: • Corner atoms 5% Edge atoms
25%
• {100} faces
60%
10%
{111} faces
Solar Energy • Sunlight provides by far the largest of all carbon-neutral energy sources • Solar energy striking the Earth in one hour 4.3 x 1020 J • Energy consumed on planet in one year 4.1 x 1020 J • Solar energy provides less than 0.1% of world’s electricity
Solar Energy Systems
Intensity [a. u.]
Nanomaterials may have vital role in improving energy efficiency of solar cells • Efficiency of conventional solar cells limited by absorption range • Metal nanoparticles have the potential to harvest more of the sun’s energy • Ease of fabrication • Scale-up Planck distribution for 1.0
6000K (simulation of solar radiation)
0.8
Absorption of the polymer-metal nanocomposite with a metal concentration of about 45%
0.6 0.4 0.2 0.0 500
Ag nanoparticles in Teflon AF
1000
1500
Wavelength (nm)
2000
2500
Active Nanosystems for Solar Energy Conversion Glass
Sample
1
2
3
4
Gold Wires
Take a mat of semiconducting nanowires (Gallium nitride)
Deposit metal nanoparticles
sample
Glass
Build a device
Glass Sapphire Gold Wire Nanowires
Other Approaches Using Nanomaterials Dye-sensitized Nanocrystalline Solar Cell
Energy Research — Connecting the Pieces • • • • • • •
Nanomaterials “Green” architecture Bioenergy Solar cells Energy harvesting Energy efficiency Fuel cells Washington State University has strengths in all these areas ⎯ our approach is to coordinate these activities with public policy and outreach to address this grandest of the “grand challenges.”
