Focus on young nanotechnology enthusiasts
Nanotechnology is among the most promising areas of technological development and among the most likely to open up major possibilities in virtually all sectors of the EU industry. The MANANO (Manufacturing and applications of nanostructured materials) project involved original and industrially relevant research undertaken in collaborative projects between academic and industrial partners. Nine linked research projects focused on developing new engineering materials by manipulating matter at the nanometre level. Nanotechnology offered powerful tools to manipulate graphene – one-atom-thick sheets of carbon with unique electronic properties. Specifically, highly conductive graphene-based pastes were developed for printed electronics. However, graphene-based materials are promising for use in various optoelectronic applications. In MANANO, by carefully deconstructing graphite, graphene dispersions and inks were produced. These allowed for the controlled deposition of conductive and transparent thin films onto a variety of substrates that can be used to improve the efficiency of organic photovoltaic devices. A unique characteristic of nanomaterials is that they can be applied in almost any industrial sector, from solar cells to lithium-ion batteries. In particular, electrodes from lithium titanium oxide spinel (LTO) were fabricated and their electrochemical properties investigated in lithium coin cells. The results strengthen the understanding of LTO as a zero-strain material with a long lifetime. MANANO was funded through the European Commission's Marie Curie programme and involved academic and industrial partners in Spain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom. It yielded outcomes with significant potential for commercial exploitation and gave early stage researchers technical skills and practical experience that will enhance their career prospects in nanotechnology.
Keywords
Nanotechnology, MANANO, graphene, printed electronics, photovoltaic devices
