The Global Market for Smart Materials

Report Summary

This report provides intelligence on market potential, current technology status and future trends in the area of nanotechnology and smart materials. The market constantly asks for better devices and materials. In the market there is technical progression of all types of materials’ size (from macro to nano), introduction of new materials, and the growing need to follow new laws regarding the traceability of parts after the usability cycle. The potential future benefits of smart materials, structures and systems enabled by nanotechnology to meet such needs, are diverse in their scope. The development and application of new smart materials can and will have a significant effect on our use of energy and our health, our use of communications’ technology and our security.

The Global Market for Nanoscale Smart Materials is in depth look at how nanotechnology is enhancing the smart materials area, providing both intrinsic smartness and enhancement of existing smart materials.

Areas covered include Nanotechnology and Piezoelectric Materials; Electrostrictive and magnetostrictive materials; Shape Memory Alloys; Electrochromics and Smart Gels to name but a few.

In depth market coverage and likely short to long term applications are also described in detail. Markets include Healthcare and Life Sciences, Environment, Aerospace, Construction and Textiles etc. covering applications such as tissue engineering, self-healing and responsive surfaces and new sensors for aerospace and transport.

The scaling of existing smart materials to the nanoscale and the incorporation of new nanomaterials into smart systems and structures, will allow for material enhancement and efficiency not possible at other scales. For example, in the area of thermoelectric converters for the direct conversion of geothermal and solar thermal energy sources into electricity, nanoscaled materials are applied because they lower the heat conductivity in the n- and p-type semiconductors dramatically, and thus enhance the conversion efficiency.

This report describes the future market opportunities, challenges, and drivers in the area of nanotechnology and smart materials. In depth focus will be placed on the areas of piezoelectric, thermoelectric and self-repairing (healing) smart materials.

Table Of Contents

1 INTRODUCTION 8

2 METHODOLOGY 10
2.1 Quantitative data collection 11
2.2 Qualitative data collection 12
2.3 Market forecasting 13

3 SMART MATERIALS AND NANOTECHNOLOGY 14
3.1 SMART SYSTEMS 15
3.2 PIEZOELECTRIC MATERIALS 18
3.3 ELECTROSTRICTIVE AND MAGNETOSTRICTIVE MATERIALS 19
3.4 ELECTROCHROMIC MATERIALS 20
3.5 SHAPE MEMORY ALLOYS 21
3.6 THERMOELECTRICS 23
3.7 ELECTRO-, MAGNETO-, RHEOLOGICAL FLUIDS 24
3.7.1 Electrorheological (ER) fluids 25
3.7.1.1 Mechanical damper 26
3.7.1.2 Clutch, brake/brake control 27
3.7.1.3 Sports equipment 28
3.7.2 Magneto-rheological (MR) fluids 29
3.8 SMART GELS 30

4 NANOMATERIALS FOR SMARTNESS 32
4.1 THIN FILMS AND COATINGS 37
4.2 NANOPARTICLES 38
4.3 NANOCRYSTALLINE MATERIALS 39
4.4 CARBON NANOTUBES 40
4.5 NANOWIRES 43
4.6 FULLERENES 43
4.7 QUANTUM DOTS 43

5 MARKETS FOR NANOSCALE SMART MATERIALS 45
5.1 COMMERCIALISATION 47
5.1.1 Need for smart materials 47
5.1.2 Drivers of Change 50
5.1.3 Future Trends and Outlook 51
5.1.4 State of the art in nanotechnology in smart materials 52
5.2 LIFE SCIENCES AND HEALTHCARE 57
5.2.1 Tissue engineering 59
5.2.2 Biomedicine 60
5.2.3 Drug delivery 60
5.2.4 Implants 62
5.2.5 In vivo sensing 62
5.2.6 Applications timeline 64
5.3 ENERGY 65
5.3.1 Energy conversion/production 65
5.3.2 Energy storage 66
5.3.3 Energy saving 66
5.3.4 Applications timeline 66
5.4 ENVIRONMENT 68
5.4.1 Detection 68
5.4.2 Treatment 69
5.4.3 Remediation 70
5.4.4 Applications Timeline 71
5.5 AEROSPACE AND AVIATION 71
5.5.1 Wings 72
5.5.2 Self-sensing structures 73
5.5.3 Adaptive Control 73
5.5.4 Self-healing coatings 74
5.5.5 Applications timeline 75
5.6 DEFENCE 75
5.6.1 Self healing and repair systems 76
5.6.2 Self-Decontaminating surfaces 76
5.6.3 Biosensing and biodefense 77
5.6.4 Protective clothing 77
5.6.5 Applications Timeline 78
5.7 AUTOMOTIVE 78
5.7.1 Brakes 80
5.7.2 Tires 80
5.7.3 Vibration Control 81
5.7.4 Applications timeline 81
5.8 AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND PACKAGING 82
5.8.1 Supply chain 82
5.8.2 Sensing 83
5.8.3 Smart labels 83
5.8.4 Bioactive Surfaces 83
5.8.5 Packaging 84
5.8.6 Applications timeline 86
5.9 SPORTS AND LEISURE 87
5.9.1 Piezoelectric vibration reduction 88
5.9.2 Applications timeline 89
5.10 CONSTRUCTION 89
5.10.1 Structural Health Monitoring 90
5.10.2 Vibration control 91
5.10.3 Applications timeline 92
5.11 TEXTILES 93
5.11.1 Protective clothing 94
5.11.2 Functional fabrics 94
5.11.3 Applications Timeline 96
5.12 KEY PLAYERS IN NANOSCALE SMART MATERIALS 97

6 PIEZOELECTRIC SMART MATERIALS 101
6.1 NANOMATERIALS FOR PIEZOELECTRICS 107
6.1.1 Piezoelectrically Actuated MEMS RF Switch 109
6.1.2 Quantum chaos in a NEMS structure 110
6.1.3 Processing and deposition 110
6.1.4 State of Art of Theory and Simulation 112
6.2 MARKETS AND APPLICATIONS 115
6.2.1 Tubular Actuators 116
6.2.2 Bending-mode actuators 116
6.2.3 Active Noise Control 119
6.2.4 Active shape control 119
6.2.5 Smart sensors for side impact diagnostics in automobiles 120
6.2.6 Cochlear implant for hearing losses 120
6.2.7 Nano shutter for space applications 121
6.2.8 Sensors Market 122
6.2.9 Smart Sensors for Automotive manufacturing 123
6.2.10 Smart Sensors for Healthcare 124
6.2.11 Market Demands and competitive situation 126
6.2.11.1 Information and communication 128
6.2.11.2 Automobiles, consumer products and environment 128
6.2.11.3 Medical and biological 128
6.2.11.4 Production and inspection 128
6.3 CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS 131
6.3.1 Ultra low defects materials 131
6.3.2 High Tc materials 132

7 THERMOELECTRIC SMART MATERIALS 133
7.1 NANOMATERIALS FOR THERMOELECTRICS 135
7.2 MARKETS AND APPLICATIONS 138
7.2.1 Thermoelectric Coolers 141
7.2.2 Thermoelectric Power Generators 143
7.2.3 Applications 145
7.2.3.1 Thermoelectric Coolers 147
7.2.3.2 Solar Thermoelectric Generation 149
7.2.3.3 Thermal energy sensors 149
7.2.3.4 Cryogenic heat flux sensor 149
7.2.3.5 Ultrasonic intensity sensor 149
7.2.3.6 Detection of water condensation 150
7.2.3.7 Fluid flow sensor 150
7.2.3.8 Infrared sensor 150
7.2.3.9 Thin film thermoelectric sensor 150
7.3 CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS 153
7.3.1 Challenges in Material Synthesis 154
7.3.2 Challenges in Characterization and Measurement 155
7.3.3 Challenges in Understanding and Modeling Transport Phenomena 156
7.3.4 Challenges in Device Integration and Operation 156
7.3.4.1 Sublimation 156
7.3.4.2 Device Integration 157
7.3.4.3 Lifetime Thermoelectric Property Variations 158

8 SELF-HEALING SMART MATERIALS 160
8.1 NANOMATERIALS FOR SELF-REPAIR 161
8.2 MARKETS AND APPLICATIONS 165
8.2.1 Plastics/polymers 165
8.2.2 Paint 167
8.2.3 Metals 167
8.2.4 Ceramics/concrete 168
8.2.5 LOW COST SENSITIVE APPLICATIONS 169
8.2.5.1 Medical dental/ artificial body replacements 169
8.2.5.2 Aerospace 169
8.2.5.3 Military 169
8.2.6 HIGH COST SENSITIVE APPLICATIONS 169
8.2.6.1 Car painting 169
8.2.6.2 Civil construction 170
8.3 CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS 173

9 GLOSSARY OF TERMS 176