Nanomaterials in Energy and Environmental Applications

Nanomaterials have begun to revolutionize our lives. They are produced by adding nanoscale components to already existing bulk materials or by creating entirely new nanostructured materials. The course presents nanomaterials for mainly energy technology and water purification technology applications, but other application areas are also covered to highlight the multidisciplinary possibilities of nanomaterials. The course addresses how the material's structure (crystallinity, defects and crystalline phase), size, shape and dimensionality affect the material's surface properties (surface charge, surface tension, reactivity, surface structure and photocatalytic properties), agglomeration state, electronic structure, mechanical and electrical properties and sensor-related properties. Furthermore, methods are used for the production of nanomaterials such as wet chemical NP synthesis, epitaxial and sputtering methods, electron and photolithography electron/ion beam-induced deposition and methods based on mechanical deformation. Slutligen används analysmetoder för nanomaterial som t.ex. SEM, TEM, STM, AFM (piezo, Kelvin probe, tunneling), Ramanspektroskopi och XPS.