Nanotechnology case nanomaterials

One of the major motivations for the development of the WPPM approach is provided by the growing field of nanomaterials. Knowing the distribution of crystalline domains is a basic piece of information in nanotechnology. In many cases, as in the example considered below, this information is particularly valuable because it is equivalent to the grain size distribution. It is frequently observed in nanocrystalline materials that grains are single crystalline domains in these cases, one can expect a close match between WPPM results and a size distribution obtained by other techniques, like HREM. 

As the rapid development of nanostructured materials continues, this book illustrates the impact of this class of materials on performance improvements of alternative energy devices, particularly those based on electrochemical processes. The authors make a powerful case for nanomaterials and nanotechnology as a way to transform such alternative energy sources into significant contributors to the future global energy mix. 

In the nanotechnology field, carbon-based materials and associated composites have received special attention both for fundamental and applicative research. In the first kind, carbon compounds may be included, often taking the form of a hollow spheres, ellipsoids, or mbes. Spherical and ellipsoidal carbon nanomaterials are referred to as fullerenes, while cylindrical ones are called nanombes and nanofibers. In the second class, one includes composite materials that combine carbon nanoparticles with other nanoparticles, or nanoparticles with large bulk-type materials. The unique properties of these various types of nanomaterials provide novel electrical, catalytic, magnetic, mechanical, thermal, and other features that are desirable for applications in commercial, medical, military, and enviromnental sectors. This is the case for conducting polymers (CPs) and carbon nanombes (CNTs) [1-5]. 

The use of nanotechnologies in the food industry may present potential risks to both human health and the environment due to the use of novel materials in novel ways, and risk assessments must be carried out. Three different ways of entrance penetration of nanoparticles in the organism are possible inhalation, skin penetration and ingestion. Free nanoparticles can cross cellular barriers and that exposure may lead to oxidative damage and inflammatory reactions. In the case of nanomaterials for food packaging, many people fear risk of indirect exposure due to potential migration of nanoparticles from packaging materials, in particular nanobiocomposites. 

Shortly following the widespread commercialization of lithium-ion hatteries as power sources in portable electronic devices, nanotechnology came to the forefront of research and development in materials science. Nanostmctured materials, which have dimensions on the order of 100 nm or less, have unique properties that are often significantly different from their hulk (or micronscale) counterparts. Because of these unique properties, the use of nanomaterials in lithium-ion battery electrodes offers the potential for improved performance in terms of charge-storage capacity, rate capability, and cycle life. The increasing capabilities for synthesis of electrode materials as nanoparticles, nanocrystallites, or nanocomposites has resulted in an explosion of research activity in this area and, in several cases, commercialization of batteries containing nanostructured electrodes. 

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