Nanotech - the path ahead

CHENNAI: Coinciding with the first anniversary of its Clean Energy and Nano Convergence (CENCON) Research Centre, the Hindustan University organised a two-day workshop on ‘Energy Nano Convergence 2012’ that concluded on Friday. In his keynote address, Dr Rajiv Kumar, Chief Scientist, Tata Chemicals, Pune, spoke on nano-catalysts, emphasising the importance of fuel cells, sustainability and affordability of alternate sources of energy and underscored the possibility of extracting energy from waste. The subsequent sessions dealt with topics like ‘Green Energy and Future’, ‘Nanotechnology Perspectives’ and ‘Printing Electronics for Future Power Generation’. “Reduction of size will increase efficiency, thereby enhancing multi-functionality. Portable Energy Generation is the need of the hour and nanotechnology is the way to achieve it,” said Prof Ganapathi Subramanian of Dongguk University, Korea, while speaking on ‘Applications of oxide electronics and nano science’ on Friday.Dr R Sudarkodi, scientist at CENCON, said, “There is tremendous potential for research in this field. Solar cells are at the initial stage but the returns are less.While silicon is commercialised, it is disadvantageous.So, the focus now is on cadmium telluride and metal oxides.”