SinodosChemistry

Novel nanomaterials are discovered every day and our enhanced abilities for manufacturing and prediction of properties are expected to support this growth for the years to come. Numerous nanomaterial categories can be identified that are of great interest for investors and manufactures, with some of the most important being:

-          Carbonaceous Microporous solids

-          Fullerenes

-          Carbon Nanotubes

-          Metal Organic Frameworks

-          Nano sized metal oxides

-          Nano sized metal or silica particles

-          Graphene

-          Graphite

Carbonaceous Microporous solids play a very important part in adsorption, separation and purification processes due to their immense storage capability of molecules depending on size and functional constraints. Carbonaceous Microporous solids attract molecules either by dispersion forces [physisorption] or by chemical interactions that lead to formation of bonds [chemical sorption] and store them into their porous structure. Up to date such solids have been used for a variety of applications such as Hydrogen adsorption, Carbon Dioxide removal and storage, Carbon Dioxide separation from fluidic streams, VOC adsorption and removal, metallic pollutants removals from aqueous environments, air purification filters, and other important applications. The classical form of this category is mainly activated carbons, materials coming from gasification of natural or synthetic precursors presenting no actual interest up to date. The prediction for this category is continuous market decrease due to the development of novel, ordered carbonaceous microstructures. The novel ordered carbonaceous microstructures have just recently been suggested and their manufacturing is based on the use of ordered micropore networks as templates for atomized organic compounds. The novel class of materials is expected to dominate the adsorption, separation and purification market in the years to come. Despite the fact that up to date their manufacturing cost is significantly higher compared to traditional activated carbons, the ability to predict optimum physical and chemical properties and their superb efficiencies will make them the materials of choice for these processes.

Fullerenes is a known carbon allotrope category that exhibits tremendous interest in the field of adsorption, medicine and electricity. Their electric properties are unique among nanomaterials and research is ongoing on their potential applications.

Carbon Nanotubes are a tubular structure based on graphene sheets that presents extreme interest and a great area of applications covering physical processes, conductive polymers and composites, friction reduction agents, transparent coating formulations, batteries, solar panels, enhancement of mechanical properties of polymers, and others. Carbon nanotubes are classified as single wall nanotubes and multi wall nanotubes and are a carbon allotrope as well. Carbon Nanotubes market is expected to experience constant growth in the years to come due to increased number of applications. Different forms of carbon nanotubes are quite popular, an example being Boron or Nitrogen or Metal doped [decorated] nanotubes for purification and adsorption processes.

Metal Organic Frameworks [MOFs] is a unique class of materials based on metal centers connected via organic ligands in 3D space. Their synthetic possibilities are countless since the use of different ligands results to MOFs with different pore size distributions, densities, porosities and chemical properties. Ligand properties of interest is total length of the main chain [porosity design] and chemical structure [dictates electronic distribution around the metal center]. The metal center itself contributes mainly to chemical properties of the structure and to the interconnection possibilities of ligands. MOFs have been widely used for selective adsorption, hydrogen adsorption, CO₂ adsorption, semiconductors, catalysis, etc. Their advantages include ability to tailor their 3D properties and predict chemical character in various environments. Their shortcomings are mainly their poor stability in humid or elevated temperature environments and high manufacturing cost.

Nano sized metal oxides and metals are mainly used in solar applications, removal of pollutants from fluids, quantum dots, medicinal applications, cutting and forming fluids applications, anti bacterial applications, hydrophobic coatings, conductive additives, and others. The demand for nanosized metals and metal oxides grows every year and new applications are suggested by research groups around the world.

Graphene is the most known carbon allotrope; its electric and electronic properties have attracted tremendous interest for optical, electrical, mechanical applications in various fields covering electronics, automotive, physical processes, coating formulations, conductive formulations, energy storage, biological engineering etc. Graphene production is expected to continue to increase in the next years.

Most of the nanomaterials market boom is partially due to the increase in computational power of modern computational systems and the grid methodologies followed by most research groups around the globe. These advances in computational chemistry predictions [theoretical chemistry calculations] are expected to reveal many more aspects of nanosized materials. Their properties can be evaluated in short times, without the need of perpetual experimental investigation. Demanding methods such as Density Functional Theory [DFT] and Ab Initio are required to accurately predict atomic and molecular chemical and electronic properties of imaginary nanomaterials. Only when such a material has been investigated at theoretical level does the experimental synthetic process commence. This path allows for optimistic views of nanosized materials future.