Hybrid nanocomposites — automotive sector Energy and climate change, inherently intertwined, are among the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. Novel batteries and solar cells enabled energetically autonomous automotive devices for major impact on emissions. Energy © Thinkstock Energy harvesting will likely play an important role in meeting the EU’s stringent restrictions on carbon dioxide emissions for 2020. Inorganic–organic hybrid nanomaterials will play a major role in technological development of energy solutions. The EU-funded project 'Ordered inorganic-organic hybrids using ionic liquids for emerging applications' (ORION) created a multidisciplinary, multi-sector consortium of experts in batteries and solar cells. Researchers worked on developing new materials exploiting ionic liquids to meet the energy challenge. Ionic liquids can impart order and functionality in inorganic–organic hybrids. The team used them to guide the growth of inorganic nanomaterials and functionalise their surfaces. Following synthesis, characterisation and modelling of a variety of novel materials, researchers turned toward development of demonstrators showcasing the technology. The team delivered two energetically autonomous devices for automotive applications exploiting ORION solar cell and battery prototypes. These devices should also enable significant weight savings as well as simplify assembly processes for additional savings in production costs. This is turn will reduce fuel consumption and emissions. ORION’s explosive activity led to over 70 publications and 11 patent applications, six of which have already been awarded. Patents are not the only evidence of progress toward commercialisation. Sales outside Europe of novel metal salts developed by ORION went from 11% in 2011 to 40% in 2012. Another partner produced dye-sensitised solar cell modules to cover the façade of the Swiss Tech Convention Centre using knowledge acquired during the ORION project. Numerous other project-related technologies are finding their way into products at partner facilities with outcomes having positive repercussions throughout the EU. Highlights can be found in the project newsletter and in videos of the two demonstrators . The novel inorganic–organic hybrids exploiting ionic salts developed by ORION researchers were fundamental to the development of energy devices. Knowledge gained is likely to pave the way to numerous other applications in optics, electronics, sensing, environmental sciences and medicine. The wealth of publications and products now on the market should fuel a new era of discovery ensuring a leading role for the EU. Keywords Inorganic – organic, hybrid nanomaterials, energy, batteries, solar cell, ionic liquids, automotive
