Nanotechnology in Transportation

Fabrication Mechanics Infrastructure By Jeanne Nye, Andrew Greenberg, Ph.D. and Angela Jones, Ph.D.

How can small science help us travel such a big planet?

From roads to bridges, from planes to trains, from cars to bikes, and ships to busses.

What is nanotechnology?

A description - • Nanotechnology is the understanding and control of matter at

dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers, or nanoscale.

• Unusual physical, chemical, and biological properties can emerge in materials at the nanoscale. These properties may differ in important ways from the properties of bulk materials and single atoms or molecules.

• Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering, and technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter at this length scale.

Resource: www.nano.gov

Note: This slide and the next 9 slides are the same for all research areas.

Created in 2008 by Sciencenter, Ithaca, NY, www.sciencenter.orgAccompanying book available for purchase at www.lulu.com

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Agreement No. ESI-0532536. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Macrosizemeters, decimeters, centimeters, millimeters

Microsizemicrometers

Nanosizenanometers

Child

A child is about 1 meter tall1 meter = 1,000,000,000 nm

(1 billion nanometers)

Hand

A hand is about 1 decimeter wide1 decimeter = 100,000,000 nm

(100 million nanometers)

Pink y Finger

A pinky finger is about 1 centimeter wide

1 centimeter = 10,000,000 nm(10 million nanometers)

Freck le

A freckle is about 1 millimeter wide1 millimeter = 1,000,000 nm

(1 million nanometers)

St rand o f Hai r

A hair is about one tenth of a millimeter wide

0.1 millimeter = 100,000 nm(100 thousand nanometers)

Red Blood Cell

A red blood cell is about 10 micrometers wide

10 micrometers = 10,000 nm(10 thousand nanometers)

Bac ter ia

A bacterium is about 1 micrometer wide

1 micrometer = 1,000 nm(1 thousand nanometers)

Virus

A viron is about one tenth of a micrometer wide

0.1 micrometer = 100 nm(1 hundred nanometers)

Cell Membrane

A cell membrane is about 10 nanometers wide

10 nanometers = 10 nm

Sugar Molecule

A sugar molecule is about 1 nanometer wide

1 nanometer = 1 nm

Atom

An atom is about one tenth of a nanometer wide

0.1 nanometer = 0.1 nm

100 10-1 10-2 10-3 10-4

10-5 10-6 10-7 10-8 10-9 10-10

How BIG is nano?

Nanoscale

1 nanometer = 1 billionth (10-9) of a

meter

D 109 D

a marble

Why do we care?

• Quantum mechanics plays a much more important role

• For example, – A brick of gold is shiny and

“gold”-colored. – A vial of gold nanoparticles in

solution can be a range of colors depending on the size of the nanoparticles.

– This is because of a phenomenon know as quantum confinement. Suspensions of discrete (separated)

gold nanoparticles in clear solution vary in color from pink to purple as the nanoparticle size gets bigger. Image source: “Causes of Color”, WebExhibits, http://www.webexhibits.org/causesofcolor/9.html

Things behave differently at this scale

Why else do we care?

• Human cells and bacteria have diameters around 1-10 micrometers

BUT • Cellular machinery is on the

nanoscale – Diameter of DNA is ~2

nanometers – Hemoglobin, the protein that

carries oxygen through the body, is 5.5 nanometers in diameter

This is the scale of biological processes

Structure of hemoglobin PDB ID: 1BUW

Structure of DNA PDB ID: 1BNA

One more reason: surface area Another reason nanomaterials behave differently from bulk materials of the same chemical is because of surface area – or the area of an object

that is an exposed surface.

Volume (in cubic meters):

Surface Area (in square meters):

For this cube, each edge is 1 meter in length.

1 m

For these cubes, each edge is 0.1 meters in length, but there are 1000 cubes.

1 m

1 m

1m X 1m X 1m = 1 m3 (0.1m X 0.1m X 0.1m) X 1000 cubes = 1 m3

(1m X 1m) X 6 sides = 6 m2 (0.1m X 0.1m) X 6 sides X 1000 cubes = 60 m2

Surface Area and Reactions • This increased surface area allows chemical reactions to

go much faster. • Think about it this way: Which dissolves faster in your coffee or tea, a sugar

cube or a teaspoon of granulated sugar?

Answer: Granulated sugar

Nano-enabled Consumer Products

As of the March 10, 2011, there are over 1300 consumer products around the world that are manufacturer-identified as nanotechnology-based. These products are here, ready to buy today!

• Touch screens (iPhone) • Sunscreens • Cosmetics • Tennis rackets

• Bicycles • Fabric • Computer memory • Many more…

Resources: The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies website: http://www.nanotechproject.org/

Activity Description

• You have been assigned an area of nanotechnology research to support.

• Go through this presentation and any other credible sources to identify three benefits of research in nanotechnology toward your area of interest and up to three potential risks you perceive in your area of interest.

• As a group, we will weigh the risks and benefits of each area to decide how much of our federal nanotechnology budget should go to each research area.

Disclaimer: this is a contrived scenario

• There are no federal nanotechnology budget cuts – $1.7 billion estimated for FY2012 (fiscal year 2012) – Increased investment proposed for FY2013 (nearly $1.8 billion)

• Nanoscale Science, Engineering and Technology (NSET) subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council's Committee on Technology is an actual government entity – Composed of representatives from 25 federal agencies (NIH, DOE, DOD, etc.) – Purpose is to coordinate planning, budgeting, and implementation of the

National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI) – These representatives work together to create an integrated federal program.

• Actual nano “budget” is different from what is proposed in this activity – Actual “budget” is given as a supplement to the President’s 2013 Budget

Request submitted to Congress – It represents the sum of the investment in nanotechnology and nanoscience

planned for 2013 by federal agencies – The agencies submit how much they are planning to spend on nanoscience – In the activity scenario, we’re doing the opposite of what the actual NNI

Budget represents in that we’re distributing a pre-determined amount amongst these research areas.

Resources: NNI Budget website: http://www.nano.gov/about-nni/what/funding

Transportation

In this presentation, you will learn about some of the developments in nanotechnology in

transportation research

Consider the following when learning about these developments:

1. Might these nanotechnology developments infringe on human rights to privacy and freedom?

2. Is it safe for me? Is it safe for others?

3. Could the use of this nanotechnology development have unwanted and negative environmental effects?

4. What economic impact could the use of this nanotechnology development have on producers, consumers, and other industries? Might they be negative or positive?

What About Your Rights?

If so, are these developments more important than

• Your privacy? • Your rights as a citizen? • Your rights as a human

being?

Are the answers somewhere in between?

Image source: http://www.info4security.com/Pictures/web/w/v/m/iStock_Law.jpg

Links to outside sources • Within this presentation will be many underlined words. If

you click on the underlined text, your browser will take you to other websites, videos, or other resources to learn more about what is on the slide.

• These links are chosen to give you additional information, but these presentations can stand alone. It is unnecessary to go to the links for the purpose of this activity.

• We try to make sure the links are active, but given the ever-changing nature of the internet, you might find a few that take you to a location that is no longer active. Please let the facilitator know if you find an inactive link.

1. Behind the Wheel

• Imagine, nearly three quarters of a billion cars are currently being driven around the world.

• Pollutant emissions and the need for recycling and disposal are a big concern.

• Researchers, developers and industry are searching for new nanotechnology solutions for the transportation industry.

Areas of Vehicle Nanoscience Research

• Anti-glare and dirt-resistant window materials

• Wear-resistant super-grip tires • Corrosion protection • Lightweight materials • Individually varying colors • Wear-resistant mechanical parts • Electronic safety sensors • New drive and emissions concepts

Thanks to nanotechnology, look for vehicle improvements in the following areas. A few of these will be described on the following pages.

Ames Research Center conducts research using nano-scale assembly to create sensing elements, among other things. They are using protein-based nanotubes, potentially capable of self-organization and replication. Image Credit: Ames (ref. 1)

Resource [1] Ames Research Center, http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/spinoff2001/ames.html

Engineered Materials and Structures: Coatings and Adhesives

Lotus Coating • Lotus leaves contain micro- and nano-scaled

structures that prevent dirt and water from adhering. [1]

• Researchers at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center are working to create a coating that will keep surfaces of “spacesuits, scientific instruments, robotic rovers, solar array panels and other hardware used to gather scientific data or carry out exploratory activities on other objects in the solar system” free from dirt and dust. [2]

• Click on the link to see a video of the coating originally developed by nGimat Co., a nanomaterials company based out of Georgia.

Lotus effect. Image source: Wikimedia Commons

Resources: [1] “Lotus Coating: Mimicking Natures Self-Cleaning Properties to Control Lunar dust,” http://gsfctechnology.gsfc.nasa.gov/TechSheets/Lotus_Goddard_final.pdf

[2] “Lotus Plant-Inspired Dust-Busting Shield to Protect Space Gear” http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2009/lotus_coating.html

Windshields

• Nanoparticles and nanofibers make this possible. These nanoparticles provide extremely high transparency and stiffness. Besides making driving safer with better all-round vision, it also would be lighter.

• Look for transparent solar cells for car windows, soon, with the help of nanotechnology

Designs are currently being developed for windows that wrap all the way around vehicles.

Resource: [1] Presting: C, Volume 23, Issues 6-8, Current Trends in Nanoscience - From Materials to Application Proceedings of Symposium A, E-MRS Spring Meeting 2003, 15 December 2003, Pages 737-741 (link)

Your Bike and Nanotechnology

• To save energy and for exercise, some of us ride bicycles, but a lightweight bicycle is always easier to pedal.

• Bicycle manufacturers are turning to carbon nanotubes to make their bicycle frames lighter but still strong.

• Carbon nanotubes are tiny cylinders of carbon atoms that have 100 times the strength of steel but weigh much less.

• Nanotechnology has helped make a bicycle frame that weighs roughly two pounds and is extra durable.

BMC Cycling – SLR01 Image source: BMC Cycling

http://www.bmc-racing.com/

Carbon nanotube. Image source: Wikimedia Commons created by Michael Ströck

2. Mechanics Better Batteries with Nanoscience

• A123 Systems, deemed one of the top 10 most innovative companies in transportation in 2011 by Fast Company Magazine [1], is using nanotechnology in their electric car batteries.

• Their proprietary Nanophosphate® lithium ion battery technology is built on novel nanoscale materials initially developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. [2] Resources: [1] Arndt, R., “The 10 Most Innovative Companies in Transportation,” March 14, 2011, Fast Company Magazine,

http://www.fastcompany.com/1738608/the-10-most-innovative-companies-in-transportation [2] A123 Systems website, http://www.a123systems.com/

Buckeye Bullet Electric Streamliner using A123 batteries sets world land speed record of 307.66 MPH . Photo credit: A123 Systems.

For more on their game-changing technology, check out their

website: http://www.a123systems.com/te

chnology-core.htm.

Fuel Cells using Nanotechnology

• Cheaper fuel cell powered vehicles can be made possible with the help of an enzyme (biological catalyst) connected electrically to a carbon nanotube.

• The National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado is combining carbon nanotubes with hydrogenase, a bacterial enzyme that can produce electricity with virtually no polluting byproducts.

• Using these “biohybrid” catalysts reduces the need for platinum, an expensive component in traditional fuel cell catalysts.

Resources: [1] American Chemical Society. "'Wiring Up' Enzymes For Producing Hydrogen In Fuel Cells." ScienceDaily, 21 Nov. 2007. Web. 20 Apr. 2011. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071119100338.htm

Computer graphic representation of a hydrogenase and a single-walled carbon nanotube (elongated structure). Image Credit: Michael J. Heben, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Lighter Nanotech Cars Save Fuel

• Ford Motor Company has an idea for dealing with the energy crisis.

• Ford scientists are looking to nanotechnology to make cars 250 to 750 pounds lighter without compromising the structural integrity or performance of the vehicle.

• Lightening the vehicles will result in cars with better gas mileage.

• Ford estimates that by 2015, some 70 percent of automotive materials will be modified or redefined by nanotechnology.

Resources: [1] Phenix, M., “Ford Turns to Nanotech to Cut Pounds, Save Fuel,” Autotopia Blog of Wired Magazine, http://www.wired.com/autopia/2008/04/ford-turns-to-n/

A Better Catalytic Converter

• With nanoscience these catalytic converters use 70 to 90 percent less precious metals, like platinum, rhodium and palladium, which are typically used as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.

• Instead, Mazda’s converters rely on nanoparticles of the catalytic metal, each less than five nanometers in diameter, embedded into fixed positions onto the surface of tiny ceramic spheres.

Mazda created a new catalytic converter using nanotechnology. Catalytic converters help to purify exhaust emissions.

Resources: [1] Stafford, N., “Catalytic converters go nano,” Chemistry World, http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2007/October/10100701.asp

See how it works on the next page.

Nano-sized Secrets In the past the problem of placing nanoparticles on a surface like this resulted in the migration and collection of nanoparticles into one place (agglomeration), this reduces the overall surface area of the catalysts thus reducing overall conversion efficiency, too. Somehow, Mazda has overcome the problem, and they’re not telling how!

That’s Nano-Slick!

• Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory are using nano-boric acid particles in motor oil to reduce energy lost due to friction of moving parts.

• The result can be a 4-5% reduction in fuel consumption. Boric acid 'rose’

Photo credit: Argonne National Lab

Resources: [1] Sagoff, J., “Nano-boric acid makes motor oil more slippery,” Argonne National Lab, http://www.anl.gov/Media_Center/News/2007/ES070803.html

3. Infrastructure

• Nanomaterials are found in construction materials including concrete, asphalt, aggregates, and even pavement marking materials.

• Research into nanophosphors could someday illuminate the streets, not from above, but from within! [1]

• Pavement may someday heal its own cracking using nanotechnology. [2]

Nanotechnology can also be found in the construction and monitoring of roads.

Resources: [1] Steyn, W. J. V., and J. D. Bullough. "Development of Autoluminescent Surfacings for Concrete Pavements." Transportation Research Record.2070 (2008): 22-31.[Abstract]

[2] Rashid K. Abu Al-Rub, “Nanotechnology-Based Self-Heating and Self-Healing Smart Pavements,” Southwest University Transportation Center Research Project Description, http://swutc.tamu.edu/projectdescriptions/476660-00026.htm

Transportation Links These are websites which are a good place to start looking for more information on nanotechnology in transportation. The general website page linked at the bottom of this page is full of nanotechnology sites related to multiple areas including yours. • Automotive Engineering Magazine article on

nanotechnology http://www.sae.org/mags/aei/7240 • US Department of Transportation Federal Highway

Administration Fact Sheet on Nanotechnology http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/advancedresearch/pubs/10033

/index.cfm http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/nanotech.htm

General Nanoscience Website Links

Nano-enabled consumer products To learn more about nano-enabled consumer products in all areas of research visit the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies • Established in April 2005 as a partnership between the Woodrow Wilson

International Center for Scholars and the Pew Charitable Trusts • “The Project is dedicated to helping ensure that as nanotechnologies

advance, possible risks are minimized, public and consumer engagement remains strong, and the potential benefits of these new technologies are realized.”

• Their website includes news and publications about issues with nanotechnology.

• It also includes inventories of consumer products that are manufacturer-identified as nanotechnology based, and as of the March 10, 2011 update, there are over 1300 products around the world.

Resources: The Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies website: http://www.nanotechproject.org/

More on the website

If time allows, return to the main website and watch some of the videos that provide “expert testimony” in the area of nanotechnology in

transportation. Click here