Nanomaterials Solid

bulk silicon (left) , silicon nanopowder (right)

many traditional solids exhibit different properties when shrink nanometer sizes. example, nanoparticles of yellow gold , gray silicon red in color; gold nanoparticles melt @ lower temperatures (~300 °c 2.5 nm size) gold slabs (1064 °c); , metallic nanowires stronger corresponding bulk metals. high surface area of nanoparticles makes them extremely attractive applications in field of energy. example, platinum metals may provide improvements automotive fuel catalysts, proton exchange membrane (pem) fuel cells. also, ceramic oxides (or cermets) of lanthanum, cerium, manganese , nickel being developed solid oxide fuel cells (sofc). lithium, lithium–titanate , tantalum nanoparticles being applied in lithium ion batteries. silicon nanoparticles have been shown dramatically expand storage capacity of lithium ion batteries during expansion/contraction cycle. silicon nanowires cycle without significant degradation , present potential use in batteries expanded storage times. silicon nanoparticles being used in new forms of solar energy cells. thin film deposition of silicon quantum dots on polycrystalline silicon substrate of photovoltaic (solar) cell increases voltage output as 60% fluorescing incoming light prior capture. here again, surface area of nanoparticles (and thin films) plays critical role in maximizing amount of absorbed radiation.