Carbon Nanoflorets

Carbon Nanoflorets

News: Recently, researchers at IIT Bombay have created carbon nanoflorets capable of converting sunlight into heat with unmatched efficiency.

What are Carbon Nanoflorets?
• Carbon Nanoflorets are unique structures that resemble tiny marigold flowers made entirely of carbon. They were created by researchers at IIT Bombay.
• The process of synthesis involved heating a special form of silicon dust called DFNS (Dendritic Fibrous Nanosilica) in a furnace. Once heated, acetylene gas was introduced into the chamber. The white powder turned black, indicating that carbon had been deposited on the DFNS. The black powder was then collected and treated with a strong chemical that dissolved the DFNS away, leaving carbon particles behind.

Structure and Significance:
• The structure of these silicon particles ranged from 50-1,200 nanometers in size and resembled spikes arranged around a sphere. These nanoflorets could absorb sunlight at many frequencies and convert it to heat with unprecedented efficiency. They also didn’t easily dissipate the heat generated into the environment, making the material a good candidate for heat.
• The nanoflorets converted the light energy they absorbed into thermal energy—a process called solar-thermal conversion—with a remarkable efficiency of 87%.

Applications:
• Solar-thermal conversion: Carbon Nanoflorets can be used in heating systems, water vaporization, and other thermal applications due to their ability to convert sunlight into heat with an impressive 87% efficiency.
• Commercial viability: Their demonstrated capability to generate heat sustainably makes them a promising candidate for eco-friendly heating solutions in various industries.
• Coating versatility: They are compatible with various surfaces, including paper, metal, and terracotta clay, indicating their potential for diverse application scenarios.
• Energy Storage Devices: Carbon Nanoflorets show promise in enhancing the performance of supercapacitors and lithium-ion batteries due to their high surface area and electrical conductivity.
• Biomedical Applications: Carbon Nanoflorets have shown potential in various biomedical applications such a drug delivery, bioimaging, and tissue engineering, owing to their biocompatibility and high surface area for drug loading and targeting.