Trends Identified
Fuel cells, catalysts for innovative energy sources
Fuel cells and catalysts for innovative energy sources will be able to use the large number of nanotechnological materials used to design various types of energy sources. In particular, these include: hybrid nanostructured proton-conducting membranes including nanoparticles which improve their transmission properties, and nano-scale catalysts based on platinum and transition metals (including “core in the shell” type catalysts) used to create fuel cells; nano-scale cathode materials with mixed electron-ion conductivity and nanostructured anode materials based on various forms of silicon and carbon, from which lithium-ion batteries are formed; There will also be developed catalysts to produce innovative energy sources and chemical products many of which are already used in industrial production. efficient nano-scale catalysts for deep processing of oil and gas products; nano-scale catalysts for conversion of natural gas and associated gases into liquid petroleum, hydrogen and valuable organic products; nano-sized catalysts for processing renewable raw materials (biogas and biomass) into valuable organic products; a wide range of nano-sized catalysts for the production of innovative energy sources and processing of natural ones;
nano-scale granular membranes based on complex oxides with a perovskite, spinel and fluorite structure, used in processes to partially oxidise methane and associated gases into synthesis gas at low temperatures, or nano-scale catalysts to convert biomass products into synthesis gas.
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Radiating elements based on nano-scale heterostructures
Broad prospects for the development of nanotechnologies are offered by radiating elements based on nano-scale heterostructures, including lasers and organic light emitting diodes. Organic light emitting diodes, one of the most cost-effective sources of light, are renowned for their unique slim design and high flexibility, offering a broad range of the light spectrum and light stream geometries to which humans are readily accustomed. They can be manufactured in any form, almost at will, and “fit” into working and residential premises of different scales. Lasers have already been widely used in medicine, mechanical engineering, construction and land surveying following the development of the printed circuit board and integrated boards. They are used to detect various substances (including weapons and explosives), for heating through thermonuclear synthesis and in astronomy.
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Heat-resistant nanostructured composite, ceramic and metallic materials
Heat-resistant nanostructured composite, ceramic and metallic materials have considerable potential for application in numerous fields (in particular the aeronautical industry and electrical energy sector) thanks to their resistance to chemical decomposition at high temperatures. Among this line of innovative products, the following are notable:
carbon-carbon construction materials with maximum operating temperatures of up to 1650°C;
light high-strength laminated composite metal-intermetallic materials suitable for use in high temperatures and at critical temperature gradients;
heat-resistant composite coatings hardened with nano-scale silicides making it possible to increase the temperature and operating life of products, as well as their reliability by 1.5 times;
carbon fibre composites with metallic matrices to produce heat-resistant construction items with a certain nanostructure.
Nanostructured composite materials with special properties (including conductiveness, magnetism and optical properties), intended to transfer and transform electrical currents, make up a large group of innovative products. The main applications for this type of materials are being developed to transfer high power currents and to miniaturise devices.
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Nanostructured composite materials with special properties (including conductive, magnetic and optical)
Nanostructured composite materials with special optical properties (including photon crystals) will be particularly in demand by 2030. In the medium term we can expect to see the use of systems with sensory properties, for example, the ability to change the range of intensity of emitted light in conjunction with certain reagents. There may significant improvements in key functional parameters of fibre-optic communications lines providing safely screened multichannel methods to transfer data – speed and quality of the transfer – by using nanostructured materials, on the one hand, with extremely high levels of immunity to interference and, on the other hand, which are not a source of radiation. The application of photon crystal and micro-structured fibres opens up new opportunities to use fibre-optics in physical value sensors.
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Nano- and micro-robotics systems
Nano- and microrobotics systems appear to be very promising in terms of their use in medicine, including to develop next-generation surgical devices. In this group, promising products include: movable elements of nano- and microrobotics systems based on laminated nanocomposite materials; integrated equipment based on mechatronic modules to machine complex parts; active nanostructures based on magneto-elastic materials and multiferroics with artificially created critical states, designed for micro-electromechanical systems; mechatronic modules used for spatial positioning of nanosystems and nanotechnological equipment based on incremental micromotors, roller drives and microprocessor control systems.
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Electronic elements based on graphene, fullerene, carbon nanotubes, quantum dots
An important breakthrough in the electronics industry will be the development of electronic elements based on graphene, fullerene, carbon nanotubes and quantum dots. The electronic devices developed on the basis of these, with very small dimensions and weights, will have very high functional parameters. It is anticipated that after development of the frequency range up to several terahertz and significantly increasing the performance of computer systems, fundamentally new communications devices could be created with unprecedented broad-band channels. This will open up a new niche for high-speed data transfer networks with small ranges and will make it possible to completely abandon the use of cables when connecting audio, television and video devices and home cinema equipment when transferring multi-threaded video at high resolution. Graphene photodiodes, used as photo receivers in the terahertz range, could be mounted in compact security systems (to detect arms, drugs, explosives, etc.).
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Elements electronics based on memristors
New opportunities to create neuromorphic computer systems with a revolutionary new architecture will be opened up by memristor-based electronics. This drastically increases their performance when solving problems which have been poorly programmed on classic computers, and significantly reduces their energy consumption. In the field of “smart” electronics, it may be possible to make controlled changes to the electrical resistance of functional materials with long-term storage of the specified status, which will make it possible to use these structures as equivalents to synapses when setting up the hardware for neural networks and building neuromorphic computer systems.
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Remote monitoring systems including using satellite systems
The introduction of remote monitoring systems using satellite systems will ensure that qualitatively new information on the state of the land, land based installations, and natural and anthropogenic processes is available. These data will serve as the primary source to create up-to-date thematic maps. Aside from this, prospective remote surveying technologies and computer data processing technologies vastly exceed the capabilities of traditional cartography both in terms of content and the diversity of the methods used to present the data.
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Meso-scale models to forecast dangerous hydrometeorological phenomena
The meso-scale model to forecast dangerous hydrometeorological phenomena is a software package incorporating an actual mesoscale atmospheric model; a unit to prepare input data, constraints and surface properties (pre-processing); and a postprocessing unit to process modelling output data, additional calculations and visualisation. Such models, implemented for limited territories, already serve as a means to provide a detailed forecast of meteorological fields with various parameters (temperature, humidity, pressure, precipitation, wind), and the sampling resolution of the computer grids for operational weather forecasting does not exceed 2 km2. Improving these models will enhance the accuracy and scales of the fore casts of dangerous phenomena, both for “purely atmospheric” (storm wind speed, largescale precipitation, etc.) and for series of hydrometeorological phenomena (storm surges, floods, rough seas, avalanches, etc.).
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Systems to diagnose the state of natural and dangerous man-made systems
Systems to diagnose the state of natural and dangerous man-made systems are critical for the prevention of emergencies. These systems include not only an instrument base, but also a means to process and visualise the results. Their application means that the amount of time required for diagnosis can be reduced and accuracy can be increased, which would greatly reduce the possible damage and increase the safety of the technosphere. The development of systems to diagnose the state of natural and dangerous manmade systems based on innovative equipment will lead to the creation of new markets in the field of instrumentation and software.
2016
Russia 2030: science and technology foresight
Russia, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation