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3.4.5 Applications and perspectives

Applications and perspectives

Nanoparticles

• Nanoparticles of iron- or cobalt (Ferrofluid-application in sensors, metrology etc, as camouflage coating in vehicle and aircraft paints, as dynamic vehicle damping systems in the automotive sector, in medical diagnostics etc; Further utilization in new non-volatile data storage technologies e. g. ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM). Most applications are currently in early applied research. Widespread utilization may be realized towards the end of the next decade.)
• Titanium-nanoparticles (Utilization as alloy compound in lightweight materials within the aerospace sector and increasingly in the automotive sector. Within the biomedical area Ti-nanoparticles are used as materials for implants. Both applications are curently at the barrier between late applied research and market distribution. Ti-nanoparticles are also investigated as material for hydrogen storage. Appropriate research is in an earlier stage.)
• Noble metal nanoparticles (One of the main application fields for noble metal nanoparticles is the medical sector: They are used as anti-bacterial materials for medical implants or cosmetics (Ag-nanoparticles), in drug development and drug delivery (Ag-, Au and Pt-nanoparticles) in imaging diagnostics (Ag- and Au-nanoparticles) and in bio-labeling and detection (Ag-nanoparticles). Further applications are additives to inks and pigments (Ag-nanoparticles), catalytic converters in medical use (Au-nanoparticles) and for combustion exhaust purification (Pt-nanoparticles) as well as in solar cells (Au-nanoparticles). Pt-nanoparticles are even utilized as hydrogen catalysts. Whereas anti-bacterial and exhaust purification are in a rather advanced stage, other applications need further 5-10 years to achieve market relevant distribution.)

Nanoparticle powders

• Aluminium-transition metal alloys (Established utilization in medical implants. Development of lightweight materials for the transport and energy sector are in applied research with application relevance towards the next decade)
• Aluminium, magnesium and alloys (Applied research for the development of lightweight materials for the transport and energy sector. Widespread usage in around 5-10 years. Further potential application in hydrogen storage (early applied research).)
• Magnesium-nickel alloys (Early applied research for applications in hydrogen storage and utilization in Ni-MH-Batteries)
• Titanium and titanium-aluminium alloys (Early applied research stage for utilization in heat resistant and high temperature materials within the automotive and aerospace sectors. Marketable realizations may be expected towards the end of the next decade)
• Nickel (Utilization in coatings and sealing gaskets. Application as conductive material e. g. in photo voltaics or hydrogen technology. Maturity: transition from applied research to market distribution.)

Nanocrystalline metals

• Steel with nanocrystalline surface (Utilization in light weight steel sheets. Relevance for the transport and energy sector. Market maturity within 5 years.)
• Nanocrystalline Al and/or Mg solids (Lightweight construction material for aerospace and automotive applications. Currently in applied research. Market distribution may be expected for the middle of the next decade. Additional application potential on a long run may exist in hydrogen storage.)
• Nanocrystalline solids of Ti-Al-alloys (Utilization as lightweight construction material; currently applied research state. High performance electrical generators based on nanocrystalline Ti-Al-alloys may be realizedtowards the end of the next decade)
• Nanocrystalline Ti solids (Ti-based nanocrystalline solids may be used for both lightweight construction and medical implants. Both applications are currently in applied research and could gain market maturity within 5 years.)
• Nanocrystalline solids of nickel and titanium (Ni-Ti solids are investigated currently as micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS). Application relevance may be seen within 5-10 years.)
• Nanocrystalline solids of Fe-Cu-Nb-Si-B-alloys (Utilization in electricity supply systems and electronic engineering, i. e. in RF-electronic components. Realizations of the latter expected within around 5 years.)
• Nanocrystalline high-grade steel (This material is used for the construction of robust mechanical components e. g. in the transport or the energy sector. Further application potental is given within biomedical engineering. The development for both application areas is currently in the applied research state. Market maturity can be seen within 5 years.)

Plasmonic nanostructures
Plasmonic design of metallic surfaces is of relevance for the ICT sector. Appli-cation potential may be seen for the improvement of photonic components like LEDs, OLEDs, solar cells, CMOS-cameras, waveguides, optical interconnects, data storage etc. as well as for high resolution lithography and near field spectroscpy. However, plasmon research is in a very basic stage. First lab models have been realized. Market maturity will only be given on a very long run (>10 years).