Nanotechnology

Electrochemical capacitors (ECs), also known as supercapacitors or ultracapacitors, differ from regular capacitors that you would find in your TV or computer in that they store substantially higher amounts of charges. They have garnered attention as energy storage devices as they charge and discharge faster than batteries, yet they are still limited by low energy densities, only a fraction of the energy density of batteries. Now researchers at UCLA have used a standard LightScribe DVD optical drive to produce such electrodes. The electrodes are composed of an expanded network of graphene - a one-atom-thick layer of graphitic carbon  - that shows excellent mechanical and electrical properties as well as exceptionally high surface area.

Nanowires — microscopic fibers that can be “grown” in the lab — are a hot research topic today, with a variety of potential applications including light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and sensors. Now, a team of MIT researchers has found a way of precisely controlling the width and composition of these tiny strands as they grow, making it possible to grow complex structures that are optimally designed for particular applications.

According to a new technical market research report, the global market for nanophotonic devices was valued at nearly $2.5 billion in 2011 and is expected to increase to $10.9 billion in 2016, a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.8%. The global market for nanophotonic devices can be separated into nine segments: nanophotonic diodes, near-field optics, solar cells, optical switches, nanophotonic ICs, holographic memory, nano-optical sensors, optical amplifiers, and add/drop filters.

In this report, analysts estimate that the total market for metallic nanoparticles, nanoinks and pastes, and nanostructures will grow to around $2.0 billion (USD) by 2017. The report is the latest in the firm’s ongoing coverage of nanomaterials for electronics and energy applications which dates back to 2005.  It also detailed revenue forecasts for the materials covered broken out by application including printed circuit boards, consumer appliances, optical storage and more.

The global market for Microscopes is projected to reach US$3.98 billion by the year 2017, primarily driven by rising end-user demand for high precision and high resolution imaging technology. Further, developments in areas involving semiconductors, MEMS, nanotechnology and other material sciences are also catalyzing demand for microscopes. In the coming years, technology innovations and robust demand from developing markets, especially from the Asia-Pacific region, are expected to drive demand for microscopes.

Annual global nanotechnology research funding is running at $10 billion per year. Since the US National Nanotechnology Initiative was announced in 2000, almost every developed and developing economy has initiated national nanotechnology programs. The world’s governments currently spend $10 billion per year on nanotechnology research and development, with that figure set to grow by 20% over the next three years. By the end of 2011, the total government funding for nanotechnology research worldwide will be $65 billion, rising to $100 billion by 2014. When figures for corporate research and various other forms of private funding are taken into account, which were thought to have surpassed government funding figures as far back as 2004, it is estimated that nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars will have been invested into nanotechnology by 2015.

World nanocomposites market is forecast to reach 1.3 billion pounds (£) by the year 2015. With the recession now at its tail end, growth in nanocomposites market will be driven by robust demand outlook within the electronics industry and emerging application possibilities in military and aerospace sectors. The impact of the economic recession has been diverse and disproportionate, among industries across the globe, with some smarting from the heat and dust raised by the economic turmoil, while others crumbled under the pressure. The unusually pronounced length and depth of the current recession has had even high-end disruptive technologies like nanotechnology succumbing to the economic pressure making the industry no longer a safe haven. The reverberating impact of the recession across the nanotechnology value chain is undeniable. Economic and financial hardships imposed by the downturn have tripped sales of nano-enabled products thus sending knock-on effects up the supply chain to the nanomaterials market.

Based on a comprehensive technical and market assessment, this report reveals the onset of several impending QD-based product launches. The global market for QDs, which in 2010 is estimated to generate $67 million in revenues, is projected to grow over the next 5 years at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 58.3%, reaching almost $670 million by 2015, representing a tenfold increase. Following the initially modest revenues generated by standalone colloidal QDs—primarily serving the life sciences, academic, and other industrial research and development (R&D) communities—within the next 2 years several significant product launches are expected with colloidal or in situ QD underpinnings. These will bolster market revenue considerably. The biggest growth sectors will be in optoelectronics, solar energy, optics, and electronics, adding to strong growth already established in the biomedical sector. Specific QDbased products include lasers, sensors, flash memory, lighting and displays, secondand third-generation solar panels, security deterrents, and several enhancements to portable devices.

The global market for nanostructured coatings and thin films in 2011 is forecasted to be approximately $227.5 million dollars, growing to over $1.4 billion by 2016. The fastest growing markets to 2016 will be in interior and exterior household protection, textiles and medical markets, driven by the increased demands for protective and repellent coatings. Conductive carbon nanotube coatings are also finding market traction in the electronics and automotive sectors and this will continue to be a strong growth area.

This study pertains to the semiconductor manufacturing sector wherein it provides insight into emerging trends and research and development in the area of nanolithography. The research report covers key developments taking place in nanolithography required for fabricating future nanoscale semiconductor devices. In particular, potential technologies for fabricating smaller transistors is looked into, with leading candidates being extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography, electron beam (e-beam) direct writing, and nanoimprinting. An analytical overlook on research pipelines and market requirements is done to highlight the possible scenario in the coming years. The report is written in a manner easily understood and allows the reader to assess different technologies from a top level view, while simultaneously providing comprehensive degree of information to its readers.