How nanotechnology can help to combat climate change

Nanotechnology is quickly becoming one of the most important elements of modern science. With the looming uncertainty around climate change ahead, nanotechnology for certain will be playing a part in helping to try and protect our planet.

Nano CO2 Harvesters

Researchers have developed Nano CO2 harvesters, which can suck atmospheric carbon dioxide and deploy it for industrial purposes, helping to slow the rise of CO2 levels in the atmosphere. Many regard this nanotechnology as the potential ‘holy grail’ of combating climate change.

There is hope that the technology in the future could be used to take CO2 from the earth’s atmosphere and convert it into useful products such as Alcohol. Despite being very early in the progress of this potentially revolutionary product, there is a real promise that this science could be crucial to protecting the planet.

Accelerated Anaerobic digestion

Digesters have been used for years to convert biodegradable waste into biogas fuels and solids that can be used as fertilizers, but the process is incredibly slow. However, using nanotechnology, this process can be sped up rapidly.

Adding metal oxide particles to food digesters can double the amount of biogas produced, This means farms and food industries can manage biodegradable waste with more, leading to less pollution into land and water.

Electricity storage and batteries

As a cheaper method of supercapacitor storage of renewable energy, Electricity storage through everyday objects like bricks could play a major role in reducing the number of emissions we need to produce.

In this research, nanoscientists have found a way to store electricity into the house brick. This way, buildings could become powerhouses of energy, meaning that we would be able to be more efficient with our electricity and could lead the way from a transition away from CO2 emissions.

Click here to see some more impacts of nanotechnology.