rus
Issue #1/2023
E.S.Shitova, F.V.Makarov, А.А.Pertsev, A.P.Ponomarenko, A.A.Shtraus
REVIEW OF THE PROMISING APPLICATIONS OF NANOPARTICLES IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES
REVIEW OF THE PROMISING APPLICATIONS OF NANOPARTICLES IN VARIOUS INDUSTRIES
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22184/1993-8578.2023.16.1.30.40
The authors analysed the promising applications of nanoparticles in various fields, such as medicine, energy production, electronics and other industries taking into account the development of nanotechnology in Russia and worldwide.
The authors analysed the promising applications of nanoparticles in various fields, such as medicine, energy production, electronics and other industries taking into account the development of nanotechnology in Russia and worldwide.
Теги: application of nanoparticles nanoparticles nanotechnologies нанотехнологии наночастицы применение наночастиц
INTRODUCTION
Nanotechnology remains one of the innovative fields of research in modern materials science. According to a commonly accepted definition, nanotechnology refers to the field of scientific and applied research in manipulation of objects with at least one linear dimension in the range from 1 to 100 nm. Such objects include thin films, nanoporous structures, nanotubes and nanofibres, nanodispersions, nanoparticles, etc. Intense interest in them is conditioned by a possibility of achieving certain properties for a range of applications that are unattainable for classical materials. For example, nanoparticles have unique properties compared to bulk materials, based on such features as size (including surface area to volume ratio) and morphology. These properties include chemical activity, energy absorption, biological activity, electronic, optical, mechanical and magnetic properties.
RESEARCH METHODS
The literature review was conducted using Scopus, RSCI, Google.Scholar, Espacenet and other databases, and includes an analysis of data on nanoparticle applications from 2005 to 2022.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The current state of art increased demands on the properties and characteristics of materials which cannot always be achieved by using traditional materials. This fact explains the increased interest in nanotechnology worldwide. Every year new properties and, as a consequence, new opportunities for the use of nanomaterials in various industries are discovered. In this pape, we consider areas that have prospects for industrial implementation in the coming years or are already in use.
Medicine
One of the most promising and fastest-growing applications of nanoparticles is in various fields of medicine. The use of nanotechnology in medicine opens up new possibilities. Some methods are currently under development while others are in clinical trials or are already in use. In medicine, the characteristics of nanoparticles are usually subject to particularly stringent requirements.
The main application of nanotechnology in medicine, which is currently being actively developed, involves the use of nanoparticles to deliver drugs to certain types of cells (e.g. cancer cells). Polymer-modified metal nanoparticles, such as cobalt oxide nanoparticles coated with chitosan or modified with addition of N-phosphonomethylimino diacetic acid, are used for this purpose. These nanoparticles are designed in such way that they are attracted to diseased cells without affecting healthy cells. Some metal nanoparticles, such as titanium, vanadium, chromium, rhenium, gold, copper, etc., are used to perform thermolysis of cancerous tumours using laser radiation that is not absorbed by human tissue while heating the nanoparticles and thermally affecting cancer cells [1–10].
The antimicrobial properties of elements are also used in biomedicine. For example, silver nanoparticles are used in development of new generation dressings, wound disinfection preparations, also a possibility of silver nanoparticle penetration through the membrane of bacteria with further necrosis of these cells has also been proved [3, 4, 9, 11–18].
The most common application of nanoparticles in medicine relates to diagnostics by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and (CT). The first generation of exogenous contrast agents consisted of high-spin paramagnetic ions of metals such as manganese (Mn2+), iron (Fe3+) or gadolinium (Gd3+). Research is ongoing regarding the applications of gold and iron oxide nanoparticles (Au-Fe3O4), metal ion nanoparticles, porous hollow Fe3O4 nanoparticles and iron-based alloy nanoparticles such as iron-cobalt (FeCo) and iron-platinum (FePt) nanoparticles [8, 10, 19–22]. In Russia, only gadolinium-based drugs are currently used for MRI because they are the only ones certified, but these drugs have a number of side-effects and are being phased out abroad [23, 24].
Promising areas are also surgery and dentistry, where bioceramic nanoparticles such as calcium phosphate, boron nitride, zinc oxide, etc., are used for production of implants, as well as in bone and tissue regeneration [11, 25–27]. In this case, particular attention is paid to the toxicological characteristics of materials and possibility of making implants that provide long-term treatment by the gradual release of drugs, such as antibiotics, into the body.
Nanoparticles of titanium oxide, zinc oxide and silver oxide are known to be used in cosmetic and dermatological preparations, such as healing creams (to treat scars, acne) and sunscreens [28–30].
When it comes to introducing new technologies, medicine is the most complex sector, due to the high risks involved; a lot of research is carried out and the materials used have to be strictly compliant. Unlike other sectors, medicine does not require as much material as current nanoparticle technology can provide.
The medical applications of nanoparticles are shown in Fig.1.
Energy production
In recent years, there is a trend towards a gradual transition to alternative energy sources however here achievement of high efficiency levels is impossible without the use of modern technology. Nanotechnology will solve the problems that have hindered development of alternative energy, including reducing the cost of electricity produced.
In hydrogen energy, nanoparticles are used in several applications: photoelectrochemical water decomposition, photocatalytic hydrogen production, solid-state hydrogen storage and proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Titanium and zinc oxides are wide bandgap semiconductors which are used as photoanodes for water decomposition [31]. To produce hydrogen, aluminium is often used to form oxides by combining with oxygen from water, releasing hydrogen in the process. At the same time, the surface area of aluminium plays a significant role and the use of aluminium nanoparticles can increase efficiency of these processes [32–34].
One of the unique properties of nanoparticles is provided by their large surface area to volume ratio, which makes them promising for use as catalysts. For example, efficiency of platinum and palladium based catalysts [42], suitable for use in fuel cells, is significantly increased by the use of nanoparticles. The degradation rate of such catalysts is 7–8 times lower than that of conventional ones [35]. Other promising catalysts are tungsten, vanadium, cerium, copper, zinc and titanium oxides, etc. [36–42].
Nowadays, the main ways of storing and transporting hydrogen are liquefaction and compression in gaseous state. The development of hydrogen energy requires new safer and cheaper methods, one of them could be nanoparticles due to their surface area. First of all, magnesium is of interest because of its prevalence, as well as of the multi-component aerogels based on it [31, 43, 44].
One of the problems of solar energy is surface dusting, which reduces efficiency of solar cells. In 2012, a series of panels were released that use self-cleaning glass with nanocoatings [45]. In addition, various nanoparticles are used as high-performance n- and p-type semiconductors and as a substitute for organic dyes, which also affects the energy yield of solar cells [46–51].
There is also a place for nanoparticles in the conventional hydrocarbon energy. For example, the use of fluids with nanoparticles (colloids) can increase recoverability of oil from rocks. Chemical, thermal or polymer flooding is generally used to enhance oil recovery but degradation of polymers and surfactants entails additional costs and burdens on the environment. Nanoparticles of magnesium, aluminum, zinc, zirconium, tin, iron, nickel, hydrophobic silicon oxide and silane-treated silicon oxide are promising methods of enhanced oil recovery, primarily by changing wettability, improving mobility of trapped oil, enhancing sand consolidation and reducing interfacial tension [52, 53].
The energy production applications of nanoparticles are presented in Fig.2.
Electronics
One of the first industrial applications of nanoparticles in electronics is in solder pastes, such solders have high strength, wear resistance and heat resistance due to their intermetallic composition [54].
Some metal oxides have the properties of semiconductors with tunable bandgap width, their films are of great interest for micro- and optoelectronics, and solar cells [55]. Other oxides, such as zirconium dioxide, exhibit dielectric properties and can be used as an insulator in transistors [56].
A number of works indicate the promising use of silicon nanoparticles [57] and tin [58] in lithium-ion batteries to increase the reversible power up to 360%, compared with traditional graphite batteries, with the particle size having a direct influence on the battery lifetime. There are also ongoing works on the use of vanadium oxide nanoparticles as the cathode for lithium-ion batteries [38], tin oxide [58] for sodium and potassium-ion batteries and manganese oxide in lithium-ion batteries [59].
The use of nanoparticles as detection elements can greatly increase their sensitivity. Due to their small size, such detectors need only a few molecules to change their electrical characteristics such as capacitance or resistance. Various metals such as gold, platinum, palladium, silver, copper, cobalt and others, including rare earth metals, are used for detection. Sensors and transducers based on nanoparticles can be used for gas leak detection, anti-terrorism purposes as well as for analysis of water, air, soil and even food quality [60, 61].
The fields of application of nanoparticles in electronics are shown in Fig.3.
Industry
There are many industries in which nanoparticles are used. In this section we consider applications of nanoparticles in products for such industries as aviation, shipbuilding, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, agriculture, parts and assemblies for energy and electronics industries described above, and many others.
Another important difference between nanoparticles and bulk material must not be forgotten, the change in thermodynamic characteristics – the melting point depends on the particle size. Due to the large number of atoms near the surface of the particle, the Debye temperature differs significantly. These properties are of great interest in such processes as sintering and mechanoactivation [62].
Nanoparticles are used to fabricate ceramic, matrix and polymer-matrix composites [63, 64]. Aluminum and yttrium oxides are applied to make optical elements whose characteristics cannot be obtained by other methods [65]. Metal matrix composites produced using nanoparticles as alloying elements exhibit performance characteristics that are several times higher than those of bulk materials. The matrix materials used are mainly alloys of aluminium, copper, titanium, magnesium, while the strengthening particles are oxides, nitrides and carbides of various metals [66–69]. For example, tensile tests of specimens made of conventional AZ91D alloy and with the addition of 1% vol. aluminum nitride nanoparticles showed an increase in mechanical properties by 44% [69]. Molybdenum nanoparticles are used for development of such critical elements as X-ray tubes and vacuum valves [67].
Nanoparticles have found wide application in coatings [36, 63] primarily to fabricate self-cleaning hydrophobic surfaces. For example, nanoparticles of titanium oxide, silicon, zirconium and zinc are used to coat ship hulls to avoid microbial fouling and, consequently, reduce downtime [70].
Introduction of nanoparticles into various lubricants helps to improve their tribological properties. In [71] the effect of bismuth nanoparticles on tribological properties of BS900 and BS6500 lubricants was studied. At that, as regards light lubricant, the friction coefficient decreased from 0.091 to 0.052 (at particle concentration of 900 mg/l), for heavy lubricant from 0.074 to 0.047 (310 mg/l).
There are studies confirming the possibility of using silicon nanoparticles for water purification [11, 72] and in agriculture [72, 73], but these methods are not yet widely used.
The fields of application of nanoparticles in industry are shown in Fig.4.
CONCLUSIONS
The analysis of literature has shown that in recent years scientists have been actively working to expand the range of applications of nanoparticles in various industries. It should be noted that the application fields of nanoparticles are not limited to those described, the use of nanoparticles is growing year by year same as the development of their methods of manufacture.
PEER REVIEW INFO
Editorial board thanks the anonymous reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. It is also grateful for their consent to publish papers on the journal’s website and SEL eLibrary eLIBRARY.RU.
Declaration of Competing Interest. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Nanotechnology remains one of the innovative fields of research in modern materials science. According to a commonly accepted definition, nanotechnology refers to the field of scientific and applied research in manipulation of objects with at least one linear dimension in the range from 1 to 100 nm. Such objects include thin films, nanoporous structures, nanotubes and nanofibres, nanodispersions, nanoparticles, etc. Intense interest in them is conditioned by a possibility of achieving certain properties for a range of applications that are unattainable for classical materials. For example, nanoparticles have unique properties compared to bulk materials, based on such features as size (including surface area to volume ratio) and morphology. These properties include chemical activity, energy absorption, biological activity, electronic, optical, mechanical and magnetic properties.
RESEARCH METHODS
The literature review was conducted using Scopus, RSCI, Google.Scholar, Espacenet and other databases, and includes an analysis of data on nanoparticle applications from 2005 to 2022.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The current state of art increased demands on the properties and characteristics of materials which cannot always be achieved by using traditional materials. This fact explains the increased interest in nanotechnology worldwide. Every year new properties and, as a consequence, new opportunities for the use of nanomaterials in various industries are discovered. In this pape, we consider areas that have prospects for industrial implementation in the coming years or are already in use.
Medicine
One of the most promising and fastest-growing applications of nanoparticles is in various fields of medicine. The use of nanotechnology in medicine opens up new possibilities. Some methods are currently under development while others are in clinical trials or are already in use. In medicine, the characteristics of nanoparticles are usually subject to particularly stringent requirements.
The main application of nanotechnology in medicine, which is currently being actively developed, involves the use of nanoparticles to deliver drugs to certain types of cells (e.g. cancer cells). Polymer-modified metal nanoparticles, such as cobalt oxide nanoparticles coated with chitosan or modified with addition of N-phosphonomethylimino diacetic acid, are used for this purpose. These nanoparticles are designed in such way that they are attracted to diseased cells without affecting healthy cells. Some metal nanoparticles, such as titanium, vanadium, chromium, rhenium, gold, copper, etc., are used to perform thermolysis of cancerous tumours using laser radiation that is not absorbed by human tissue while heating the nanoparticles and thermally affecting cancer cells [1–10].
The antimicrobial properties of elements are also used in biomedicine. For example, silver nanoparticles are used in development of new generation dressings, wound disinfection preparations, also a possibility of silver nanoparticle penetration through the membrane of bacteria with further necrosis of these cells has also been proved [3, 4, 9, 11–18].
The most common application of nanoparticles in medicine relates to diagnostics by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and (CT). The first generation of exogenous contrast agents consisted of high-spin paramagnetic ions of metals such as manganese (Mn2+), iron (Fe3+) or gadolinium (Gd3+). Research is ongoing regarding the applications of gold and iron oxide nanoparticles (Au-Fe3O4), metal ion nanoparticles, porous hollow Fe3O4 nanoparticles and iron-based alloy nanoparticles such as iron-cobalt (FeCo) and iron-platinum (FePt) nanoparticles [8, 10, 19–22]. In Russia, only gadolinium-based drugs are currently used for MRI because they are the only ones certified, but these drugs have a number of side-effects and are being phased out abroad [23, 24].
Promising areas are also surgery and dentistry, where bioceramic nanoparticles such as calcium phosphate, boron nitride, zinc oxide, etc., are used for production of implants, as well as in bone and tissue regeneration [11, 25–27]. In this case, particular attention is paid to the toxicological characteristics of materials and possibility of making implants that provide long-term treatment by the gradual release of drugs, such as antibiotics, into the body.
Nanoparticles of titanium oxide, zinc oxide and silver oxide are known to be used in cosmetic and dermatological preparations, such as healing creams (to treat scars, acne) and sunscreens [28–30].
When it comes to introducing new technologies, medicine is the most complex sector, due to the high risks involved; a lot of research is carried out and the materials used have to be strictly compliant. Unlike other sectors, medicine does not require as much material as current nanoparticle technology can provide.
The medical applications of nanoparticles are shown in Fig.1.
Energy production
In recent years, there is a trend towards a gradual transition to alternative energy sources however here achievement of high efficiency levels is impossible without the use of modern technology. Nanotechnology will solve the problems that have hindered development of alternative energy, including reducing the cost of electricity produced.
In hydrogen energy, nanoparticles are used in several applications: photoelectrochemical water decomposition, photocatalytic hydrogen production, solid-state hydrogen storage and proton exchange membrane fuel cells. Titanium and zinc oxides are wide bandgap semiconductors which are used as photoanodes for water decomposition [31]. To produce hydrogen, aluminium is often used to form oxides by combining with oxygen from water, releasing hydrogen in the process. At the same time, the surface area of aluminium plays a significant role and the use of aluminium nanoparticles can increase efficiency of these processes [32–34].
One of the unique properties of nanoparticles is provided by their large surface area to volume ratio, which makes them promising for use as catalysts. For example, efficiency of platinum and palladium based catalysts [42], suitable for use in fuel cells, is significantly increased by the use of nanoparticles. The degradation rate of such catalysts is 7–8 times lower than that of conventional ones [35]. Other promising catalysts are tungsten, vanadium, cerium, copper, zinc and titanium oxides, etc. [36–42].
Nowadays, the main ways of storing and transporting hydrogen are liquefaction and compression in gaseous state. The development of hydrogen energy requires new safer and cheaper methods, one of them could be nanoparticles due to their surface area. First of all, magnesium is of interest because of its prevalence, as well as of the multi-component aerogels based on it [31, 43, 44].
One of the problems of solar energy is surface dusting, which reduces efficiency of solar cells. In 2012, a series of panels were released that use self-cleaning glass with nanocoatings [45]. In addition, various nanoparticles are used as high-performance n- and p-type semiconductors and as a substitute for organic dyes, which also affects the energy yield of solar cells [46–51].
There is also a place for nanoparticles in the conventional hydrocarbon energy. For example, the use of fluids with nanoparticles (colloids) can increase recoverability of oil from rocks. Chemical, thermal or polymer flooding is generally used to enhance oil recovery but degradation of polymers and surfactants entails additional costs and burdens on the environment. Nanoparticles of magnesium, aluminum, zinc, zirconium, tin, iron, nickel, hydrophobic silicon oxide and silane-treated silicon oxide are promising methods of enhanced oil recovery, primarily by changing wettability, improving mobility of trapped oil, enhancing sand consolidation and reducing interfacial tension [52, 53].
The energy production applications of nanoparticles are presented in Fig.2.
Electronics
One of the first industrial applications of nanoparticles in electronics is in solder pastes, such solders have high strength, wear resistance and heat resistance due to their intermetallic composition [54].
Some metal oxides have the properties of semiconductors with tunable bandgap width, their films are of great interest for micro- and optoelectronics, and solar cells [55]. Other oxides, such as zirconium dioxide, exhibit dielectric properties and can be used as an insulator in transistors [56].
A number of works indicate the promising use of silicon nanoparticles [57] and tin [58] in lithium-ion batteries to increase the reversible power up to 360%, compared with traditional graphite batteries, with the particle size having a direct influence on the battery lifetime. There are also ongoing works on the use of vanadium oxide nanoparticles as the cathode for lithium-ion batteries [38], tin oxide [58] for sodium and potassium-ion batteries and manganese oxide in lithium-ion batteries [59].
The use of nanoparticles as detection elements can greatly increase their sensitivity. Due to their small size, such detectors need only a few molecules to change their electrical characteristics such as capacitance or resistance. Various metals such as gold, platinum, palladium, silver, copper, cobalt and others, including rare earth metals, are used for detection. Sensors and transducers based on nanoparticles can be used for gas leak detection, anti-terrorism purposes as well as for analysis of water, air, soil and even food quality [60, 61].
The fields of application of nanoparticles in electronics are shown in Fig.3.
Industry
There are many industries in which nanoparticles are used. In this section we consider applications of nanoparticles in products for such industries as aviation, shipbuilding, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, agriculture, parts and assemblies for energy and electronics industries described above, and many others.
Another important difference between nanoparticles and bulk material must not be forgotten, the change in thermodynamic characteristics – the melting point depends on the particle size. Due to the large number of atoms near the surface of the particle, the Debye temperature differs significantly. These properties are of great interest in such processes as sintering and mechanoactivation [62].
Nanoparticles are used to fabricate ceramic, matrix and polymer-matrix composites [63, 64]. Aluminum and yttrium oxides are applied to make optical elements whose characteristics cannot be obtained by other methods [65]. Metal matrix composites produced using nanoparticles as alloying elements exhibit performance characteristics that are several times higher than those of bulk materials. The matrix materials used are mainly alloys of aluminium, copper, titanium, magnesium, while the strengthening particles are oxides, nitrides and carbides of various metals [66–69]. For example, tensile tests of specimens made of conventional AZ91D alloy and with the addition of 1% vol. aluminum nitride nanoparticles showed an increase in mechanical properties by 44% [69]. Molybdenum nanoparticles are used for development of such critical elements as X-ray tubes and vacuum valves [67].
Nanoparticles have found wide application in coatings [36, 63] primarily to fabricate self-cleaning hydrophobic surfaces. For example, nanoparticles of titanium oxide, silicon, zirconium and zinc are used to coat ship hulls to avoid microbial fouling and, consequently, reduce downtime [70].
Introduction of nanoparticles into various lubricants helps to improve their tribological properties. In [71] the effect of bismuth nanoparticles on tribological properties of BS900 and BS6500 lubricants was studied. At that, as regards light lubricant, the friction coefficient decreased from 0.091 to 0.052 (at particle concentration of 900 mg/l), for heavy lubricant from 0.074 to 0.047 (310 mg/l).
There are studies confirming the possibility of using silicon nanoparticles for water purification [11, 72] and in agriculture [72, 73], but these methods are not yet widely used.
The fields of application of nanoparticles in industry are shown in Fig.4.
CONCLUSIONS
The analysis of literature has shown that in recent years scientists have been actively working to expand the range of applications of nanoparticles in various industries. It should be noted that the application fields of nanoparticles are not limited to those described, the use of nanoparticles is growing year by year same as the development of their methods of manufacture.
PEER REVIEW INFO
Editorial board thanks the anonymous reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work. It is also grateful for their consent to publish papers on the journal’s website and SEL eLibrary eLIBRARY.RU.
Declaration of Competing Interest. The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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