Will nanomaterials define our future?

Dr John RobinsonCompetency Leader

Outline

• What are nanomaterials?

• Commercialisation case Studies

• What might the future hold?

• Conclusions

• A Materials Science approach to Nanotechnology• ‘Nanomaterial’: at least 1 external or internal

dimension at the nanoscale (less than 100 nm)• 1 nanometre = 10-9metre (million times smaller than a millimetre)

• eg: Nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanorods, thin films, nanostructured materials.

What are Nanomaterials?

Nanoparticles Nanorods Nanostructured particles

• Compared to traditional materials, nanomaterials:• Have increased surface area• Are potentially:

• Harder, stronger, more flexible• Often present:

• Unique optical, electronic, thermal properties• Nanomaterials are not new:

• Carbon black, photographic silvers, Ming Dynasty glazes

• ‘Nanohype’ began in 1990’s with advances in electron microscopy

Why are Nanomaterials of interest?

Potential Nanomaterials Applications

But products don’t always develop along the lines we expect…

Case Studies• Antaria Limited

• Advanced Materials development & manufacturing company

• Based in Western Australia

• Technology start-up company, established 1997, initially

focusing on nanomaterials

Case Studies: Cerium Oxide

10 nm 20 nm 50 nm

• Nanoparticulate cerium oxide synthesized by Mechanochemical Processing

Case Studies: Cerium Oxide• Precision polishing of microelectronic components

(Chemical Mechanical Planarization: CMP)• Cerium oxide believed to be next generation CMP

material• Samsung Corning (SSC) invested $6m in 2000• Pilot plant constructed to demonstrate scalability of

process• Result:

• Nano cerium oxide unable to displace lower cost silica based CMP slurries• 2013: cerium oxide based slurries account for <1%

CMP market• CMP slurry project dropped…

Case Studies: Cerium Oxide• Antaria approached by Oxonica in 2003:

• Dispersion of cerium oxide nanoparticles for diesel fuel additive?• “Envirox”:

• Fuel borne cerium oxide nanoparticles act as combustion catalyst• Improves efficiency of combustion of diesel fuel• Assists in burning of carbon deposits

• Envirox now marketed by Energenics EU: utilized by Stagecoach Bus Co.

Case Studies: Aluminium Oxide• Micron sized plate-like alumina particulates with nanoscale

thickness

Case Studies: Aluminium Oxide• Applications initially pursued:

• Hard coatings• Advanced ceramics

• Toughening ceramics / glasses• Specialty lubricants• Transparent polymer additive:

• Improved strength• Reduced friction

• Result: unable to compete on price in comparison with existing materials / additives…

Case Studies: Aluminium Oxide• “Alusion” developed by chance:

• Functional cosmetics pigment:• Soft focus effect with enhanced cosmetic ‘feel’

• Technology licensed to Merck KGaA in2009:• Alusion incorporated in cosmetics pigments range

• “RonaFlare White Sapphire”• Collaborative R&D aimed at development of pearlescent

pigment products for automotive and other applications.

Cosmetics: a surprising market?• Antaria now focus entirely on Aluminium

Oxide and Zinc Oxide for cosmetics & sunscreens.

• Nanomaterials in cosmetics estimated at $155.8M end 2012• Ref: BCC NAN017D

• Nano ZnO & TiO2 UV absorbers in Personal Care estimated at $280m by 2015.• Ref: BCC NAN031D

• Where else can nanotechnology go?

What does the future hold?• Current global nanomaterials market size?

• $1.7 Billion in 2010 / growing 23% pa to 2016

• Ref: Global nanomaterials opportunity and emerging trends, Lucintel

report, March 2011

• $9.9 Billion in 2010 / growing at 14.7% pa to 19.6 Billion in 2015

• Ref: Nanotechnology: a realistic market assessment, BCC report

NAN031D, July 2011

• Depends how the market is defined

What does the future hold?Anticipated global nanotechnology market segmentation 2015

• $1.7

Estimated market size $19.6 billion in 2015: Ref: BCC NAN031D

What does the future hold?Graphene: next generation nanomaterial?

• Discovered 2004, University of Manchester (Nobel prize 2010)

• Chicken-wire type structure of C-atoms, single layer thick.

• Properties:• Hard as diamond• Flexible as rubber• Exceptional electric and thermal conductivity• High surface area• Transparent

www.jameshedberg.com/lettera/2010/07/05/graphene-models/

www.sciencenews.org

What does the future hold?Graphene: next generation nanomaterial?

Global graphene market tipped to reach ~$520 million by 2020(BCC AVM075A, Feb 2011)

Conclusions• A bright future for nanomaterials?

• Challenges:• Cost competitiveness / performance advantage• Nanomaterials safety: Regulatory hurdles

• It seems safe to conclude:• Nanomaterials markets will continue to grow• New nanomaterials will continue to emerge

• The 3 E’s will to continue to dominate:• Electronic / Energy / Environmental

• $Billion opportunities

• Highest growth in healthcare & consumer goods• Antibacterial applications / Cosmetics…

• $100M opportunities

Thank You