| If current news is any indication, Nanotechnology is | | | | gas is yet another potential application of |
| poised to play a significant role in the development of | | | | nanotechnology. Unconventional sources of natural |
| clean, less expensive energy. The potential of | | | | gas include tight sandstones, shale gas, and coal bed |
| nanotechnology for solving some of today's greatest | | | | methane. Nanotechnology applications may prove |
| energy challenges is vast. | | | | useful in accessing or exploiting these unconventional |
| Nanotechnology refers broadly to a field of applied | | | | natural gas sources. For instance, nanocatalysts and |
| science and technology whose unifying theme is the | | | | nanoscale membranes may prove useful in assisting in |
| control of matter on the molecular level in scales | | | | Gas to Liquids production. Furthermore, certain |
| smaller than one micrometer, normally 1 to 100 | | | | nanostructured materials may assist in compressed |
| nanometers, and the fabrication of devices within | | | | natural gas transport. |
| that size range. For scale, a single virus particle is | | | | Nanotechnology may also prove useful in solving the |
| about 100 nanometers in width. | | | | waste problems of the nuclear energy industry. For |
| Encompassing nanoscale science, engineering and | | | | instance, certain nano-engineered barriers may prove |
| technology, nanotechnology involves imaging, | | | | useful in preventing the migration of or containing |
| measuring, modeling, and manipulating matter at this | | | | nuclear waste products. |
| length scale." | | | | Nanotechnology applications may assist in making |
| At this size dimension, the physical, chemical, and | | | | solar energy more economical. Nanoscience can be |
| biological properties of materials differ in fundamental | | | | utilized to improve the efficiency of photovoltaic cells, |
| and valuable ways from the properties of individual | | | | creating cost-efficient conversion systems, effective |
| atoms, molecules, or bulk matter. The properties | | | | solar power storage systems or even the generation |
| displayed at the nanoscale create a host of potential | | | | of solar energy on a larger scale. For instance, |
| innovative uses for nanomaterials. One of these uses | | | | "nanopatterning" can artificially change the optical |
| includes the creation of exciting and revolutionary | | | | properties of materials to allow light to be trapped in |
| energy applications. These potential nanoscale energy | | | | solar cells. |
| applications apply to a host of different sources of | | | | Nanotechnology might someday allow for more |
| energy, including hydrogen, geothermal, | | | | powerful, more efficient and less expensive energy |
| unconventional natural gas, fission, and solar energy. | | | | generation, storage transmission and distribution. |
| While hydrogen is an energy storage medium, it is | | | | Nanotechnology is being used to optimize production |
| not a primary energy source. Therefore, full | | | | from existing energy sources and to exploit new |
| realization of hydrogen as an alternative energy | | | | sources such as geothermal, liquefied natural gas, |
| source is frustrated by gaps in technology, which do | | | | nuclear and solar energy. Nanotechnology is also |
| not precipitate the efficient and cost-effective | | | | improving and opening new possibilities for the |
| storage and transport of hydrogen. Nanoscience | | | | transmission and storage of energy, especially |
| provides new approaches to basic questions about | | | | electricity and possibly hydrogen in the future. |
| the interaction of hydrogen with materials to enable | | | | Nanotechnologies have the potential to reduce |
| the efficient and cost-effective storage and | | | | energy consumption by making it possible to |
| transport of hydrogen. | | | | manufacture lighter and/or more energy efficient |
| Applying nanotechnology to geothermal energy | | | | cards and appliances. Even though nanotechnology is |
| increases the opportunities to develop geothermal | | | | a relatively young field, the potential for future |
| resources by enhancing thermal conductivity or aiding | | | | nanotechnology applications within the energy |
| in the development of noncorrosive materials that | | | | industry could turn out to be one of the most |
| could be used for geothermal energy production. | | | | important technological developments of our time. |
| The recovery of unconventional sources of natural | | | | |