Nanotechnology R&D that accelerates decarbonisation

1. High-Performance Lubricants for Extreme Environments: New lubricants excel in harsh conditions like extreme temperatures, high pressures, and corrosive settings. They significantly extend the lifespan of machinery and cut maintenance in aerospace, mining, and high-temperature manufacturing, where traditional lubricants often fail.

2. Improving Lubricant Properties in Bio-based and Environmentally Friendly Fluids: Industries are adopting sustainable bio-based lubricants. New additives are boosting their anti-wear, friction reduction, and load-carrying capabilities. This makes eco-friendly options viable for heavy-duty applications, bridging performance gaps without compromising efficiency or equipment longevity.

3. Adaptive Viscosity Lubricants: Research is underway on lubricants that can dynamically adjust their thickness. These smart fluids could alter their flow based on external cues like temperature or pressure. This allows on-demand optimization for varying conditions, minimizing energy losses and maximizing efficiency in complex industrial systems.

1. Wearable Sensors for Health Monitoring: Conductive coatings on flexible fabrics create smart textiles. These can monitor vital signs, track movement, or provide haptic feedback, offering real-time health insights and enabling seamless human-machine interaction in everyday wear.
2. Self-Cleaning and Anti-Fouling Surfaces: Coatings with combined conductivity and superhydrophobicity deter water, dirt, and microbial growth. This protects underlying electronics and ensures long-term performance in harsh environments, from industrial sensors to smart fabrics.
3. Enhanced Battery Electrodes and Contacts: Conductive coatings on battery electrodes improve charge transport and adhesion for longer-lasting, more efficient batteries. They also enhance electrical contact reliability, boosting power output and overall energy storage performance.
4. Transparent Heater Windows: Thin, transparent conductive coatings applied to glass create effective heaters. These can de-ice vehicle windshields, prevent fogging on displays, or control light and heat transmission in smart windows, improving visibility and energy efficiency.
5. Miniaturized and Flexible Electronics: Conductive coatings enable the creation of highly compact and bendable electronic components. This is crucial for flexible displays, bendable sensors, and stretchable circuits, leading to innovative designs in portable and wearable devices.
   

1. Self-Healing Coatings: These smart coatings autonomously repair minor damage, resealing breaches that could lead to corrosion. This extends component lifespan and reduces maintenance frequency in critical infrastructure like pipelines and bridges.
2. Antimicrobial Corrosion Inhibition: Novel coatings or additives are being developed to combat microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC). They inhibit bacterial growth on metal surfaces, protecting structures in environments like water treatment plants and marine vessels.
3. Closed-Loop Cathodic Protection Systems: These intelligent systems use real-time monitoring and control to precisely deliver protective currents. This prevents over-protection and significantly extends the lifespan of complex structures like offshore wind turbines and underground pipelines, even in variable environments.
   
4. Smart Sensors for Early Detection: Miniaturized, embedded sensors within materials or coatings detect corrosion at its earliest stages. This allows for proactive maintenance interventions, preventing extensive damage and ensuring structural integrity in exposed assets.
5. Nano-Engineered Barrier Coatings: Ultra-thin coatings, reinforced at the nanoscale, provide superior barrier protection against moisture, oxygen, and chemicals. These durable, often environmentally friendly, coatings are used on everything from industrial machinery to electronic components for enhanced resilience.