Nanomaterials and nanotechnologies

The extremely small length scale of nanomaterials (below 100 nm) results in unique properties, such as optical, electronic, mechanical and magnetic properties. RISE offer a wide range of expertise to help you enable those unique properties in your product or formulation in a safe and sustainable way.

Examples of application areas for nanomaterials:

Functional coatings, inks and membranes

Functions such as UV-protection, anti-corrosion, fire retardancy, antireflective, IR-reflective, anti-icing, and barrier properties can be achieved with coatings using nanoadditives. However, these systems require formulation and characterization of the nanomaterials in order to improve the dispersibility and compatibility in the matrix. Furthermore, inks need to have suitable rheology, wetting and adhesion properties depending on the printing technique used to apply the ink on the substrate.

Lightweight materials and composites

Nanoadditives can be added to a matrix to form composite materials that results in improved functions and properties. For examples, nano-SiO₂, nano-cellulose, graphene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) can be added to cement and polymers to develop cements and polymer composites with enhanced mechanical properties and other functionalities.

Electronics, photonics and magnetic materials

Nanoparticle based thin film deposition techniques can be used to develop a functional thin film or membrane that can improve the performance of solar cells, fuel cells, batteries and storage devices. This includes dye-synthesized solar cells, electrolytes for solid oxide fuel cells, ceramic separators and electrode materials for Li-ion batteries. Nanofabrication techniques are being used to develop more efficient transistors, antennas, storage media and sensors.

Life Science

Nanoparticles of Au, Ag, SiO₂, Iron oxide, quantum dots and Upconversion Nanoparticles (UCNPs) are being used for separation, imaging and sensing of biological molecules and moieties for early detection and curing of disease.

In the nanotechnology area, we can help you with:

synthesis, dispersion and formulation of nanomaterials
upscaling of production processes for nanoparticles and nanoparticle dispersions
coating of substrates using nanomaterials
characterization of nanomaterials
toxicology assessment of nanomaterials