I’m often asked about how current fads in technology and business affect public awareness and in particular research trends. For example, many people ask me if “nano” is a passing fad and “energy” is the new mantra. In my answers, I often comment that the term nanotechnology has been mostly misunderstood by the general public and has been overly hyped by investment firms, start-up companies and researchers seeking to enhance their image with the latest buzzword. 

So, with energy first and foremost in the public consciousness (with every visit to the gas pump), is nano being replaced? The short answer is that nanotechnology is a huge leveraging technology to solve a wide range of our energy problems. In addition, I believe that this is a great example of how a broad term for recent major advances in science and engineering at the atomic scale (nanotechnology), can be applied to major economic and social issues facing our country.

There are numerous examples of how nanotechnology can improve the efficient generation, use, transmission and storage of energy, be it from renewable, or fossil fuel sources. Existing research in nanomaterials is leading to advances in stronger materials for wind turbine blades, more efficient solar cells, enhanced performance fuel cells and batteries for electric automobiles. The list goes on.

Right here in Pennsylvania, advanced nanotechnology research is being applied to novel new applications. The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center is currently supporting several projects which apply nanomaterials research to energy. One project focuses on improving capacitor technology for the more efficient storage of energy. This project is with Y-Carbon Inc. Another project is developing more efficient lighting, based on Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) with start-up company, Crystalplex Corp. In addition, we are working with Plextronics Inc. to develop lower cost solar photovoltaics based on printing rather than expensive silicon wafer processing.

So the next time someone asks you whether “nano” is a passing fad, please help me by explaining how the tremendous research in physics, chemistry, materials and biology at the nano scale - right here in Pennsylvania - is already helping to solve our nation’s energy dilemma.

The Center is interested in your innovative ideas on applications of nanotechnology to the generation, storage, transmission and more efficient use of energy. Please send me an informal e-mail if you would like to discuss potential opportunities, or if your idea is already developed, you can submit a short white paper for consideration to the Center here. 

Industry-University Nanotechnology
Product Innovation Workshops

The Pennsylvania NanoMaterials Commercialization Center has established a partnership with the Center for Innovation Management Studies (CIMS) at North Carolina State University, to host a series of Industry-University Nanotechnology Product Innovation Workshops in Pittsburgh and State College in the fall of 2008.

These workshops are funded by the National Science Foundation and are free to all university research faculty and industry attendees. The methodology developed by CIMS for the workshops uses a unique new model to facilitate the transfer of nanotechnology research into commercial products.

CIMS has conducted a number of these successful workshops with many outstanding universities, including Penn State, Purdue, Northeastern and the University of Massachusetts. Notable industry participants have been Xerox Corporation, BP, Armstrong World Industries and Exxon Mobile. To date, the workshops have attracted 116 university and industrial attendees. 

The first university workshop with researchers scheduled at University of Pittsburgh on September 15, 2008. Register with Tricia Chilcott.