While Europe is still the world’s largest public investor in nanotechnology, with € 1.4 billion (less than € 1 billion in the US), amounting for one third of the total public funding, the US are still leading the commercialization of the nanotech products, with over 50%. According to the inventory made by the Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies, there are currently about 500 consumer products using nanotechnology. In 2005, consumer goods using nanotechnologies represented a market over € 20 billion and strong growth is expected in the coming years, up to several trillion euros in 10 years.

Numerous activities in the nano world

Nanotechnology is worldwide research business, with opening and funding in 2007 of several research centres and national institutes (IIT Bombay in India, seven facilities in Quebec, Nottingham nanotechnology and Nanoscience Centre, National Institute for Nanotechnology in Canada, …). This fad for nanotechnologies is also expressed by the numerous conferences and exhibitions dealing with this topic. As for example, Nano Tech Japan is the international exhibition on nanotechnologies, gathering close to 50,000 people in 3 days in Tokyo every year in February. During 2007 and 2008 Nano Tech editions, Yole Développement had a booth and contributed to the pre-show and post-show reports magazines.

Nanotechnologies dedicated to the environment preservation

Strong focus has been made in 2007 on the link between nanotechnologies and environment preservation. Nanotechnology products are developed to protect the environment and to reduce human toxic emissions. In this context, we can quote the following examples:

• the Japanese convenience store am/pm Japan Co. is using plastic shopping bags that are thinner but as strong as standard plastic bags, using nanotechnology to disperse a strengthening agent. The store evaluated that these bags could lower carbon dioxides emissions by 3000 tons annually
• Mazda used single nanotechnology to create a catalyst material structure which substantially reduced the amount of precious metals used, such as platinum and palladium, by 70 to 90%.
•  Researchers from the University of Queensland developed a CNT membrane, to reduce large-scale greenhouse gas emissions caused by coal mining and power generation.
• VeruTEK Technologies launched its green nanotech solutions for environmental remediation, to remedy environmental contamination from petroleum, chlorinated solvents, pesticides, herbicides, PCB, dioxin and other toxic chemicals.

Automotive and aerospace are applicative markets driving the development of nanotechnology products

In automotive, nanotech coatings have been existing for several years, offering higher scratch resistance and coating gloss to car paints. 2007 developments revealed the use of carbon nanotubes in transparent electrically conductive coatings on windshields avoiding fogging. Moreover, Yokohama unveiled an eco-friendly tire that combines citrus oil with natural rubber to reduce the use of petroleum products in tire by 80 percent. Ford also announced the acceleration of its nanotech work into lightweight metals, in collaboration with Northwestern University, to develop stronger and lighter structural materials. In aerospace, nanomaterials can help the development of new composites but enable also real-time diagnostics and on-site repair of stress-induced cracks in a composite structure.
More fundamental research is on-going on nanotechnology. This ranges from development of new or improved nanomaterials to nanotechnology integration into applications, such as electronics. Especially carbon nanotubes are tested to create pressure sensors, ultra small radios, to enhance heat flow of computer chips or to potentially replace copper interconnect. Objectives in the development of new nanomaterials are the creation of improved materials to achieve higher performances or allow for totally new devices.

Strong focus on carbon nanotubes

Though nanosilver is the most used nanomaterial in current nanotech products, carbon nanotubes trigger researchers’ interest and are the material experiencing the most innovative researches. In 2007, scientists from the University of Cincinnati announced the growth of the longest carbon nanotubes ever synthesized, reaching 2 cm long, so 900,000 times longer that its diameter. In the meantime, industrial production of carbon nanotubes is getting structured, with Bayer Material Science announcing a 60 ton annual capacity (cf figure 1: Some carbon nanotubes producers). New production methods are investigated and CVD and plasma technologies have shown promising results. The stakes lie in the compatibility of this process with large scale production while maintaining a high level of purity. Prices have dramatically decreased and you can buy 95 wt% pure multi wall carbon nanotubes for less than € 700 if you buy in kg range. For ton scale the price of this same material drops down to € 170 per kg. Single wall carbon nanotubes are much more expensive: for 90% pure SWNT, a gram cost about € 100 or € 50,000 per kg. Carbon nanotubes are interesting for mechanical reinforcement and electrical performances. As for example, researchers from the university of Pennsylvania and Rice University developed a nylon polymer composite fortified by single-walled carbon nanotubes, resulting in greater strength and toughness. While very few applications are currently commercial, material research is booming, with potential uses in various industrial fields, as the development of bullet-proof jackets with carbon nanotubes by researchers from the University of Sydney or new lightweight and strong new textiles by Nanocomp Technologies.

Conclusion

Health and Safety issues regarding the use of nanotechnology remain a critical point towards a large commercialization of nanotech products. This is highlighted by the numerous workshops, conferences, experts group dealing with this subject. However the community still needs experience and assessment of long term effects, as well as in vivo toxicological tests, requiring the validation of a standard set of nanoparticles by laboratories for benchmarking purposes. Nanotechnologies remain a hot topic, but issues are to be tackled to ensure broadening of large volume applications.

Yole Développement released in February 2008 its new report on nanotechnologies, NanoSEE 08, describing the functions and applications granted by the different categories of nanomaterials and examining the evolution of this industry in the past two years, especially the broader commercialization of nanotech products and re-focusing of research projects.