This is the fourth episode in our latest series exploring cutting-edge technological trends that excite us as deep-tech investors. Our previous posts have delved into the immense potential of Advanced Material innovations and tools to enable those innovations, the exciting world of synthetic biology and the cutting-edge work being done in biomaterials. In this post, we focus on Nanomaterials: infinitesimal inventions with a potentially infinite scope of impact.
We live in a world where the tiniest of particles could hold the key to solving the largest of human problems. Nanomaterials, particles more than a thousand times thinner than the width of a human hair, have the potential to revolutionize entire industries. The possibilities are seemingly only limited by human imagination: purifying water in drought-stricken regions, nanoparticles in the bloodstream killing cancer cells with pinpoint accuracy, or even clothing with nanofibers that can change temperature to provide warmth in cold and cooling in the heat. Even graphene, the wonder material, owes a lot of its properties to its nanoscale dimensions.
What makes nanomaterials so special? It's all about size. At the nanoscale, materials exhibit unique functional properties:
- High Surface Area to Volume Ratio: This has catapulted the use of nanomaterials in applications as catalysts, in sensors, and in batteries, among other things. For instance, catalytic converters, first developed in the 1970s, utilize nanoparticles to increase the surface area available for chemical reactions, thus enhancing their efficiency in reducing emissions
- Quantum Effects: As we go down to the nanoscale, quantum effects become increasingly relevant. This phenomenon has resulted in nanomaterial applications like quantum dots for displays and biomedical imaging, as well as in photonics.
The current focus in nanomaterial engineering is to harness these beneficial properties and develop the right materials for various applications.
It hasn’t all been smooth sailing though for nanomaterials. It has been hard to synthesise high-quality nanomaterials at scale and at low-cost. The impact of nanomaterials on human health has also been a subject of research with both the US and the EU having initiated studies and issued some guidelines around using nanomaterials.
At pi, we are seeing a surge of startups focussed on harnessing the power of nanomaterials. From leveraging nanomaterials for targeted drug delivery and therapeutic interventions to the use of nanomaterials to improve battery performance, founders are working on developing critical technologies for solving key human needs. There is also significant interest in solving industrial challenges using nanomaterials, leveraging controlled adsorption, surface coating and reinforcement properties.
For this post, we would like to do a deep-dive on nanomaterial applications in the climate sector. In particular we are actively looking at the following 3 themes:
- Carbon / GHG Capture: Atmospheric CO2 levels have increased by more than a third since in the last 70 years and its impact on global weather patterns is well documented. Nanomaterials can be leveraged to capture carbon from the atmosphere or industrial exhausts, thus helping potentially stem this rise. We are excited by the potential for startups leveraging either known materials like Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) through an efficient process, or developing novel materials for carbon capture. An industry-first approach to GTM could be critical here because of the industries benefiting from potential carbon-economy benefits
- Air and Water Purification: Rising pollution is a global menace, whether it is Delhi’s air or Seine’s water. Nanotechnology holds the key to improving air and water purification systems. Nanofibers and nanomembranes can be engineered for very specific purposes, and nanocatalysts can act on pollutants to convert them to less harmful materials. Specific use cases might require tailored solutions depending on the cost, efficacy and longevity of the solution. There is immense potential for large companies to be built in this space, and it will be important for founders to identify the right use case to build for.
- Sustainable Construction: Construction is the largest contributor to carbon emissions globally, emitting 37% of total carbon. Nanomaterials like graphene can be leveraged to build much stronger structures using significantly lesser amounts of raw materials, reducing costs as well as the carbon impact. Further, nanocoatings can reduce building wear and tear, thereby increasing longevity - again helping reduce the overall lifetime cost of construction for buildings. We are looking forward to companies revolutionizing construction by leveraging nanomaterials.
As we continue to explore and understand the nanoscale world, the possibilities seem endless. From healthcare to energy, from environmental solutions to consumer products, nanomaterials are set to play a pivotal role in shaping our future. As they say, “big things come in small packages”.
We are very excited by what lies ahead in this space, and are always on the lookout for founders leveraging nanotechnology in their products. If you or someone you know is building something disruptive using nanotechnology, please reach out to us!