Nanotechnology in future cars

Nanotechnology is expected to have a pervasive effect on the future of automotive products and manufacturing processes in the automotive industry said by Dr.G.Sundara Rajan, Director, International Advanced Research for New Materials Research Centre, Hyderabad. Dr. Sundera Rajan given a talk at GITAM Universtiy on 4-1-2008 on ‘Nanotechnology-Automotive sector”.
He described that these "new" performance attributes will be greatly enhanced by sustaining improvements in the structural, electrical, thermal, optical, magnetic and catalytic properties of materials, and their biocompatibility. New, light weight and stronger materials such as surface coatings, ultra-strong lightweight materials, and thin layers on bearings and gliding elements. These materials have uses in vehicle bodies, suspensions, brake fittings, sway bars and wheels. The replacement of existing automobile frames with carbon nanotubes-based alloys will provide for high strength and reduced weight. A range of fuel alternatives cold be possible including compact fuel cells for use in new energy-efficient engines, advanced batteries and supercapacitors for energy storage in hybrid electric vehicles and new types of solar cells for use in surface coatings, as an auxiliary source of energy. Nano-catalysts and membrane technology will play critical role in making fuel cells economically viable and replacing the internal combustion engine. Another possible application for nanotechnology is in the area of fuel cell technology and with respect to efficient pollutant filters. The target in this case is to drastically reduce fuel consumption, pollutant emissions and vehicle wear
Prof.V.V.Kutumba Rao, Director, College of Engineering, GITAM University and B.V.Mohana Rao, Secretary, GITAM Society felicitated the chief guest.