Light-Induced ignition of Carbon Nanotubes and energetic nano-materials: A review on methods and advanced technical solutions for nanoparticles-enriched fuels combustion

Abstract

Aim of the present manuscript is to provide anoverview of all possible methods and light source typologiesused by the different research groups for obtaining theenergetic nano-materials' photo-ignition, showing the latestprogress related to such phenomenon employing, also,alternative radiation sources to the common Xe lamp. Infact, the employment of a different source typology canopen new usage prospects respect to those enabled by theXe lamp, mainly due to its technological limitations. Therefore,several studies are faced to test light sources, suchas lasers and LEDs, for igniting the nano-energetic materials(as CNTs mixed with metallic catalyzers, Al / CuO nanoparticles,etc); these nano-materials are usefully employedfor starting, in volumetric and controlled way, the combustionof air-fuel mixtures inside internal combustion engines,leading to significant benefits to the combustionprocess also in terms of efficiency, reliability, and emissionsof pollutants. Several research works are presentedin literature concerning the ignition of liquid / gaseous fuels,without nano-particles, employing laser sources (i.elaser-based plugs in place of the common spark plugs);therefore, an innovative solution is proposed that employsmulti-point laser-plugs for inducing the ignition of nanomaterialsdispersed into the air-fuel mixture inside thecylinder, so further improving the combustion of the fuelin an internal combustion engine.