Implications: Convergence of Knowledge and Technology for a Sustainable Society

Nanotechnology for sustainable development: retrospective and outlook

“…During the last two decades, a consensus has gradually emerged that increasing emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) from the combustion of fossil fuels (e.g., coal and petroleum) are the key drivers of global climate change (Solomon et al 2007). Meeting the growing demand for energy while significantly reducing CO 2 emissions will require the deployment of orders of magnitude more clean and renewable energy systems than what is now in place as the world population reaches 8-10 billion by 2050 (Brinker and Ginger 2011;Diallo et al 2013). Nanotechnology provides unprecedented opportunities to advance the development of clean and renewable energy technologies (Fromer and Diallo 2013).…”

“…The article Nanotechnology and clean energy: sustainable utilization and supply of critical materials by Fromer and Diallo (2013) discusses the utilization of nanotechnology to improve or achieve materials sustainability for energy generation, conversion and storage. There is a growing realization that the development and large-scale implementation of clean energy technologies will also require sizeable amounts of technology metals (Diallo and Brinker 2011;Diallo et al 2013). In their perspectives article, the authors argue that many current problems involving the sustainable utilization and supply of critical materials in clean/renewable energy technologies could be addressed using (1) nanostructured materials with enhanced electronic, optical, magnetic and catalytic properties ( Table 2) and (2) nanotechnology-based separation materials and systems that can recover critical materials from non-traditional sources including mine tailings, industrial wastewater and electronic wastes with minimum environmental impact.…”

“…4 Sustainable nanomanufacturing processes: rapid assembly of nanoparticles, carbon nanotubes, and polymers in various configurations and orientations [Busnaina et al J Nanopart Res (2013) 15:1984 interventions must be coupled with and embedded in systemic intervention strategies, which are not solely reliant on nanotechnology as the silver bullet.'' Because sustainability entails considering social, economic and environmental factors, it is critical in all cases to integrate fundamental science (e.g., materials synthesis, characterization and modeling) with engineering research (e.g., system design, fabrication and testing), commercialization (e.g., new products) and societal benefits (e.g., new jobs and cleaner environment) (Diallo and Brinker 2011;Diallo et al 2013). Thus, nanotechnology solutions for sustainable development cannot simply be addressed at the level of small-and single-investigator funded research grants.…”

“…Thus, nanotechnology solutions for sustainable development cannot simply be addressed at the level of small-and single-investigator funded research grants. Sustainability R&D has to be integrated with broader research goals and included from the beginning in large interdisciplinary programs to be carried out by interdisciplinary teams of investigators and/or dedicated government funded research and development centers (Diallo and Brinker 2011;Diallo et al 2013). The article Nanotechnology policy in Korea for sustainable growth by So et al (2012) reviews nanotechnology policy for sustainability in South Korea over the past decade.…”

“…The Brundtland Commission of the United Nations defined ''sustainable development'' as ''that which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'' (Brundtland 1987). Currently, the world is facing great challenges to meet rising demands for basic commodities (e.g., food, water and energy), finished goods (e.g., cars, airplanes and cell phones) and services (e.g., shelter, healthcare and employment) while reducing the emission of greenhouse gases and the environmental footprint of agriculture and industry (Godfray et al 2010;Diallo and Brinker 2011;Brinker and Ginger 2011;Diallo et al 2013). Soon after the inception of the National Nanotechnology Initiative (NNI), it was envisioned that nanotechnology could provide more sustainable solutions to the global challenges facing society.…”