Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
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CHAPTER 1
Introduction: Hierarchical
Nanostructures for Energy
Devices
SEUNG HWAN KO
Applied Nano and Thermal Science (ANTS) Lab, Department of
Mechanical Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro,
Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea
Email: maxko@snu.ac.kr
.
1.1 Introduction
Energy has been the hottest social issue for a long time. Energy issues have
been related to the problems associated with current major energy sources
such as fossil and mineral energy sources: (1) their inevitable exhaustion in
the near future,
1
(2) environmental problems such as global warming due to
a commensurate increase in CO
2
(a prominent greenhouse gas) emissions,
2
(3) an energy shortage due to a recent dramatic increase in global energy
consumption
2
(between 2004 and 2030, the annual global consumption of
energy is estimated to rise by more than 50%) and thus a price increase.
Renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectric, solar, wind, hydrothermal,
biomass and nuclear power, are expected to solve the problems associated
with fossil fuels. However, energy issues are becoming more serious global
problems in the aftermath of the Fukushima catastrophe.
Despite the projected persistent increases in oil and gas prices, less than
10% of the global energy production in 2030 is predicted to come from
renewable energy sources.
In order
to moderate global
reliance on
