• Title/Summary/Keyword: Nanotechnologies

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Solar Photovoltaics Technology: No longer an Outlier

  • Kazmerski, Lawrence L.
    • Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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    • 2011.08a
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    • pp.70-70
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    • 2011
  • The prospects of current and coming solar-photovoltaic (PV) technologies are envisioned, arguing this solar-electricity source is beyond a tipping point in the complex worldwide energy outlook. Truly, a revolution in both the technological advancements of solar PV and the deployment of this energy technology is underway; PV is no longer an outlier. The birth of modern photovoltaics (PV) traces only to the mid-1950s, with the Bell Telephone Laboratories' development of an efficient, single-crystal Si solar cell. Since then, Si has dominated the technology and the markets, from space through terrestrial applications. Recently, some significant shift toward technology diversity have taken place. Some focus of this presentation will be directed toward PV R&D and technology advances, with indications of the limitations and relative strengths of crystalline (Si and GaAs) and thin-film (a-Si:H, Si, Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2, CdTe). Recent advances, contributions, industry growth, and technological pathways for transformational now and near-term technologies (Si and primarily thin films) and status and forecasts for next-generation PV (nanotechnologies and non-conventional and "new-physics" approaches) are evaluated. The need for R&D accelerating the now and imminent (evolutionary) technologies balanced with work in mid-term (disruptive) approaches is highlighted. Moreover, technology progress and ownership for next generation solar PV mandates a balanced investment in research on longer-term (the revolution needs revolutionary approaches to sustain itself) technologies (quantum dots, multi-multijunctions, intermediate-band concepts, nanotubes, bio-inspired, thermophotonics, ${\ldots}$ and solar hydrogen) having high-risk, but extremely high performance and cost returns for our next generations of energy consumers. This presentation provides insights to the reasons for PV technology emergence, how these technologies have to be developed (an appreciation of the history of solar PV)-and where we can expect to be by this mid-21st century.

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Significance of Nanotechnology and Preparation Methods of Bioactive Organic Nanoparticle (나노 기술의 중요성과 생체 활성 유기 나노 입자의 제조법)

  • Yu, Ji-Yeon;Choe, Ji-Yeon;Kim, Gi-Hyeon;Lee, Jong-Chan;Lee, Jong-Hwi
    • Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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    • v.23 no.1
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    • pp.9-17
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    • 2005
  • Nanotechnology has penetrated into the various branches of research and development and it is particularly of benefit to the particle size engineering. It has been widely known that the particle size of an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is critical in determining the bioavailability and processability of pharmaceutical formulation. However, the window of appropriate particle size has been limited mainly due to related processing difficulties. The windows have been widened by the recent development of nanotechnologies, resulting in diversified drug delivery systems. The impact of this development is far more fundamental than what can be expected from conventional particle size engineering. It is the case that the preparation and use of nanoparticles will soon be a common task in the particle engineering step of pharmaceutical unit operations. In this chapter, the basic principles of variouspreparation techniques will be discussed in detail. Regardless of processing details, the preparation methods of pharmaceutical nanoparticles mainly concern how to deal with the extra energy related with particle size. Depending on the ways of treating the e103 energy, preparation methods can be classified into two major classes, i.e.. thermodynamic and kinetic approaches. The recent progresses have shown the possibilities of much more complex combinations of different approaches and the use of new types of energy and nanostructures.

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Comparison of Distribution and Inflammatory Response by Diameter and Shape of Silver Nanoparticles (은나노 입자의 입경 크기 및 형태에 따른 체내 동태 및 염증 반응)

  • Kim, Soo-Nam;Roh, Jin-Kyu;Kang, Min-Sung;Han, Young-Ah;Lee, Byoung-Seok;Kim, Young-Hun;Park, Kwang-Sik;Choi, Kyung-Hee;Park, Eun-Jung
    • Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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    • v.25 no.3
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    • pp.215-222
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    • 2010
  • The market size of engineered nanoparticles is rapidly increasing due to the fast application of nanotechnologies into different industries and consumer products. The development of new technology and materials has improved human's quality of life, but it also entails the possibility of exposure to new materials. In this study, we compared the distribution in the body by the inflow of silver nanoparticles having another diameter and shape at 1 h or 24 h after injection via the tail vein. And, we compared the cell composition and cytokine concentration in BAL fluid, and histopathological changes. As results, discharge of silver nanoparticles having small diameter and sphere shape was more rapid than that of big diameter or plate shape. It is estimated that the toxicity in liver and lung was proportional to accumulation level. The persistence of inflammation was also longer in mice treated with plate shape. Consequently, we suggest that the first choice of silver nanoparticles having small diameter and sphere shape in applying is desirable.

The Anticipatory Governance of Emerging Technologies (떠오르는 기술들에 대한 예비 협치)

  • Guston, David H.
    • Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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    • v.19 no.6
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    • pp.432-441
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    • 2010
  • The Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University (CNS-ASU) is a Nano-scale Science and Engineering Center (NSEC) funded by the US National Science Foundation (NSF). It implements an agenda of "real-time technology assessment" (RTTA) in pursuit of a strategic vision of the "anticipatory governance" of nanotechnologies. To achieve this vision, CNS-ASU unifies research programs not only across several universities but also across three critical, component activities: foresight (of plausible future scenarios), integration (of social science and humanities research with nano-scale science and engineering), and engagement (of publics in deliberations). CNS-ASU also performs educational and training activities as well as public outreach and informal science education. This paper elaborates the Center's strategic vision of anticipatory governance and its component activities, especially in the context of extending the concerns of societal dimensions research beyond the traditional risk paradigm.

Nanomaterials Research Using Quantum Beam Technology

  • Kishimoto, Naoki;Kitazawa, Hideaki;Takeda, Yoshihiko
    • Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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    • 2011.10a
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    • pp.7-7
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    • 2011
  • Quantum beam technology has been expected to develop breakthroughs for nanotechnology during the third basic plan of science and technology (2006~2010). Recently, Green- or Life Innovations has taken over the national interests in the fourth basic science and technology plan (2011~2015). The NIMS (National Institute for Materials Science) has been conducting the corresponding mid-term research plans, as well as other national projects, such as nano-Green project (Global Research for Environment and Energy based on Nanomaterials science). In this lecture, the research trends in Japan and NIMS are firstly reviewed, and the typical achievements are highlighted over key nanotechnology fields. As one of the key nanotechnologies, the quantum beam research in NIMS focused on synchrotron radiation, neutron beams and ion/atom beams, having complementary attributes. The facilities used are SPring-8, nuclear reactor JRR-3, pulsed neutron source J-PARC and ion-laser-combined beams as well as excited atomic beams. Materials studied are typically fuel cell materials, superconducting/magnetic/multi-ferroic materials, quasicrystals, thermoelectric materials, precipitation-hardened steels, nanoparticle-dispersed materials. Here, we introduce a few topics of neutron scattering and ion beam nanofabrication. For neutron powder diffraction, the NIMS has developed multi-purpose pattern fitting software, post RIETAN2000. An ionic conductor, doped Pr2NiO4, which is a candidate for fuel-cell material, was analyzed by neutron powder diffraction with the software developed. The nuclear-density distribution derived revealed the two-dimensional network of the diffusion paths of oxygen ions at high temperatures. Using the high sensitivity of neutron beams for light elements, hydrogen states in a precipitation-strengthened steel were successfully evaluated. The small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) demonstrated the sensitive detection of hydrogen atoms trapped at the interfaces of nano-sized NbC. This result provides evidence for hydrogen embrittlement due to trapped hydrogen at precipitates. The ion beam technology can give novel functionality on a nano-scale and is targeting applications in plasmonics, ultra-fast optical communications, high-density recording and bio-patterning. The technologies developed are an ion-and-laser combined irradiation method for spatial control of nanoparticles, and a nano-masked ion irradiation method for patterning. Furthermore, we succeeded in implanting a wide-area nanopattern using nano-masks of anodic porous alumina. The patterning of ion implantation will be further applied for controlling protein adhesivity of biopolymers. It has thus been demonstrated that the quantum beam-based nanotechnology will lead the innovations both for nano-characterization and nano-fabrication.

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Life Cycle Assessment for the Fabrication Process of Superhydrophilic Oil/Water Separator (초친수성 유수분리필터 제조공정에 관한 전과정평가)

  • Park, Sungmook;Kim, Jieun;Yeom, Changju;Lee, Heyjin;Yang, Sungik;Eom, Ig-chun;Kim, Pil-je;Kim, Younghun
    • Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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    • v.54 no.6
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    • pp.800-805
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    • 2016
  • Rapid growth in nanotechnologies promises novel benefits through the exploitation of their unique industrial applications. However, as the production volume of nanomaterials increases, their unintentional exposure to the environment has been occured. Potential impacts of nanoproducts on the environment can be evaluated in the life cycle assessment (LCA). LCA is the systematic analysis of the resource usages and emissions over the life time from the primary resources to the moment of disposal. In this study, we performed LCA for fabrication processes of superhydrophilic oil/water separator using nano-$TiO_2$. $TOTAL^{TM}$ freeware was used to analyze for all fabrication processes, and 6-environmental impact factors (resource depletion, climate change, ozone depletion, acidification, eutropication, and photochemical oxidation) were introduced. In addition, the use of nano-$TiO_2$ in the fabrication of superhydrophilic oil/water separator was actively contributed to the environmental impact factors, compared to the bulk-$TiO_2$.