This presentation delivers about basics of nanotechnology

1. THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM IN THE BOTTOM
(Introduction to Nanoscience and Technology
&
Nano Solar Cells)
ARJUN KUMAR Bojarajan
Research Scholar
Quantum Materials Research Lab
Department of Nanoscience and Technology
Alagappa University, Karaikudi-03.

2. one billionth of a meter

3. Understanding Size
10 centimeter
1 metre 1 centimeter 100 micrometer
10 micrometre 1 micrometre 100 nanometre 10 nanometre 1 nanometre

4. Father of Nanotechnology
Richard Feynman
“There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom”
by these words nanotechnology bloomed
In 1959, Richard Phillips Feynman delivered
a lecture of quantum physics at American
Physical Society meeting at California
Institute of Technology,
“There’s Plenty of Room at
the Bottom: An Invitation to
Enter a New Field of Physics”
There, he presented a new vision of a
technological journey that would lead
towards the atomic scale and beyond
physical boundaries.
`
Founder of Nanoscience

5. In 1974, Norio Taniguchi
Japanese scientist coined the term
Nanotechnology. He defines
“Nanotechnology mainly consist of the
processing of separation, consolidation, and
deformation of materials by one atom or one
molecule”
The term Nanotechnology was coined by
Norio Taniguchi
He Published a Book
“Engines of Creation-The Coming
Era of Nanotechnology”
The Idea of Nanotechnology was
evolved by
Eric Drexler
Kim Eric Drexler is an American engineer .
He is well known researcher in Molecular
Nanotechnology and he published a book
entitled
“Engines of Creation-The Coming Era of
Nanotechnology” on 1986.
Carbon nanotubes was
invented by
Sumio Lijima
This invention is still boosting
the research in Nanotechnology
In 1991, Carbon nanotubes(CNT) was
invented by Japanese physicist Sumio
Lijima. He took image of CNT and
explained the concepts clearly After its
discovery it boosted the Research in
nanotechnology
Notable Personalities in Nanoscience

7. Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) were coated inner side of the potteries
in 6th century BC it was discovered in Keeladi, Tamilnadu, India
கி.மு 6 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டில் பயன்படுத்திய கார்பன் நான ாகுழாய்கள்
பூசப்பட்ட மண்பாண்டங்கள் இந்தியாவின் தமிழ்நாட்டின் கீழடியில்
கண்டடடுக்கப்பட்டது
How Asalam’s sword
was cleaved by Kattapa
🤔 Is Nanoscience New..? 🤔

8. The Lycurgus Cup made by Romans at 4th
century. Its Made up of Gold nanoparticles
Reflected light Transmitted light
Ancient glassmiths infused metal nanoparticles with glass matrixes
To make a different colours
Medieval Stained Glass Artisans made by metal
nanoparticles in early of 16th Century

9. 2D photonic crystals structures
Lotus Effect
🤔 Nanotech in Nature🤔
Interwoven fibre Nanostructure

10. Spider Man suit surface made up of bunch of Nanofibers. It
helps to attach and detach on any kind of surfaces
This is based on “Gecko Effect”
shark skin is made up of these micro/nanostructures it gives that antifouling
nature, self-cleaning and it makes the shark's skin shiner
சுறா மீ ின் னதால் பகுதி நுண் / மீநுண் அமமப்புகளால் ஆ து.எ னவ
அது சுய சுத்தம் டசய்து டகாள்ளும் தன்மமயும், பளபளப்பாகவும்
இருக்கிறது
Without
Nanostructure
With
Nanostructure

11. 0-Dimension 2-Dimension
1-Dimension 3-Dimension
Quantum Dots
Nano Rods
Nano Fibres
Nano sheets 3-D
nanostructures
Types of Nanostructured materials based on the Dimensions
Q
D
Z
Y X X
y
X
O-D
1-D
2-D
3-D

12. 🤔 Methods To Reach Nano🤔
Top-Down
Approach
Bottom-Up
Approach
Atoms → Nano Nano  Bulk

13. 🤔 Where Nano is Applied🤔

14. Quantum computing
Memory Elements
Bio Imaging
Solar Cell LEDs
Sensors
🤔 Where Nano is Applied🤔
Energy Storage Applications
…… etc

15. 😲 Real-time applications of Nano 😲
Lamborghini Sian FKP 37 Graphene foams sensors
In prosthetics

16. Global energy consumption : ~ 18 TW/year (2017)
Efficient, stable and cost effective technology to harvest this energy
Solar Cell: A technology that converts solar energy into electricity
Why do we need Solar Cells ?

18. Cost
“Golden Triangle” = Efficiency
Lifetime
Efficiency
Lifetime / Stability
Cost
Solar competitiveness
measured by
golden triangle
STATE OF ART

19. Evolution of Solar Cells
• First Generation
• Single crystalline silicon wafers (c-Si)
• Second Generation
• Amorphous Silicon (a-Si)
• Polycrystalline Silicon (poly-Si)
• Cadmium Telluride (CdTe)
• Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIGS) alloy
• Third Generation
• Dye Sensitized solar cells (DSSC)
• Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cells (QDSSC)
• Perovskite Solar Cells (PSC)
• Organic Solar Cells(OSC)

20. Main challenges
• Photon loss
Most photons emitted by sun is in the range of 1.2-
1.5eV.optical absorption of OSCs are in the range of 2eV so it
cannot harvest photon beyond visible region).
• Exciton loss
Charge separation occurs at interfaces. Excitons have to
reach the interfaces before they decay. Diffusion length ~10-70
nm
• Charge carrier loss
Traps, recombination, poor mobility, large interface
barriers
• Stability/ Lifetime
In Environmental atmosphere like Rain, Fog, Mist
Photobleaching, Temperature
Strategies to Overcome

21. TiO2 NRs
FTO Glass
FTO Glass
Seed layer
QDs
Gel Electrolyte
Counter electrode Pt
Spacer
FTO Glass cleaned by soap solution, Acetone,
Isopropyl Alcohol through sonication
Seed layer was Prepared TTIP in Isopropyl alcohol by
spin coated
TiO2 NRs synthesized by addition of TBT in Acidic
solution through Hydrothermal Method
Quantum dots where synthesized Hot injection
Method coated by CBD Method
Gel electrolytes where prepared by the ingredients of
Polymers(PEO,PEG), Iodine, Lithium Iodide, Ionic
Solution.
Active area was masked by spacer and its help as a
binder
Platinum counter electrode was Prepared by
Isopropanal
Schematic Diagram of Cross Sectional Fabricated Cell

23. Different TiO2 Nanostructures for Solar Cells

24. Device
Name
Jsc
(mA/cm2)
Voc (v) Fill Factor
(FF)
Efficiency ɳ
(%)
T1 3.67 0.73 0.40 1.07
T2 5.78 0.74 0.41 1.76
T3 2.42 0.72 0.36 0.62
Arjunkumar, B., et al. Materials Letters 273 (2020): 127900.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2020.127900

25. Thank You
🙏