A method for nano-drilling with use of a particle accelerator and deposition of carbon nanostructures inside the drilled nanoholes, related apparatus, and nanostructured tank for gas storage, such as hydrogen storage

Abstract

Method of nano-working comprising providing at least one workpiece at least partially made of polymeric material; providing an apparatus for nano-working comprising a particle accelerator and a working target; placing the workpiece near or at said working target; accelerating, by means of the particle accelerator, a particle beam towards the working target, so that to locally impact a train of accelerated particles to the workpiece, thereby drilling a through nanohole; drilling a plurality of through nanoholes next to one another into the workpiece, by means of impacting a plurality of trains of accelerated particles in a variety of portions of the workpiece, thereby obtaining a nano- drilled piece.

Description

“ A M ETHOD FOR NANO-DRILLING WITH USE OF A PARTICLE ACCELERATOR AND DEPOSITION OF CARBON NANOSTRUCTURES INSIDE THE DRILLED NANOHOLES, RELATED APPARATUS, AND NANOSTRUCTURED TANK FOR GAS STORAGE, SUCH AS HYDROGEN STORAGE ”* * *DESCRIPTIONField of the invention

[0001] . The present invention refers to the technical domain of nanotechnology.

[0002] . It is an object of the present invention a method for nano-drilling of a polymeric material.

[0003] . The nano-holes obtained by virtue of the method can house carbonic nanostructures.

[0004] . The resulting nano-composite material is particularly suitable for, although non uniquely intended to, acting as a tank for gas storage, such as hydrogen storage.

[0005] . The present invention also refers to an assembly or apparatus to execute the method.

[0006] . The present invention also relates to a nanocomposite tank for gas storage, such as hydrogen storage.State of the art

[0007] . Carbon nanotubes are generally known and the use thereof in the development of materials for various technology fields, such as power industry, environmental industry, and electronics.

[0008] . Generally, known carbonic nanostructures comprise, in addition to carbon nanotubes, carbon nano-horns, graphene, and carbon nanofibers, as well as fullerene.

[0009] . According to some examples, it is known manufacturing composite materials with metal and carbon nanotubes for hydrogen storage, as shown in prior art disclosure by Hwang S. et al. : “Hydrogen uptake of multiwalled carbon nanotubes decorated with Pt-Pd alloy using thermal vapour deposition method”, J OU RNAL OF ALLOYS AN D COM POU N DS , ELSEVI ER SEQUO IA, LAU SAN N E , CH , vol. 480, no.2, 8 July 2009 (2009-07-08), pages L20-L40, (XP026169403, ISSN : 0925-8388, DOI : 10. 1016 / J .JALLCOM .2009.01 . 136).

[0010] . Conversely, carbon nanotubes have been used for composite film and membrane manufacturing for use in nano-filtration processes like it is disclosed, for example, in document US-8887926.

[0011] . As shown in US-2012-0315459, carbon nanotubes are embedded within a polymeric matrix so that nanotubes result soaked with the polymer monomer before its polymerization, with the goal of providing electrical conductivity to the polymeric matrix.

[0012] . Furthermore, it is known from US-2010-009156 to manufacture a nanocomposite material wherein the nanomaterial is dispersed within an epoxy matrix to make an intermediate layer of a multilayered product.

[0013] . The known solutions, although satisfactory in some respects, are prone to inconvenience.

[0014] . Carbon nanotubes dispersion within the polymeric matrix at the monomer state, i.e. , before polymerization, is likely to damage the nanotubes themselves during polymerization when temperature raises. I n addition, using solvents as frequently occurs in these processes does not fix the problem.

[0015] . Moreover, embedding carbon nanotubes inside the polymer through dispersion does not allow controlling the local nano-properties of the composite nanomaterial obtained.

[0016] . It is therefore strongly felt the need of providing an improved solution for the manufacturing of a nanocomposite material comprising polymer and carbon nanostructures.

[0017] . Among various known methods for drilling holes, particle accelerators have been employed, as shown for example in document US- 3632398 and CN-206168253. Furthermore, document WO-2019-098807 discloses a particle accelerator able to generates a beam of accelerated electrons and a flow of ionized gas.Solution

[0018] . It is an object of the present invention to mitigate the drawbacks of the known art.

[0019] . This and other objects are reached by virtue of a method, according to claim 1 , as well as with an assembly or apparatus, according to claim 8, as well as with a tank, according to claim 10, as well as with a tank, according to claim 15.

[0020] . Some advantageous embodiments are the subject of dependentclaims.

[0021] . According to an aspect of the invention, a method of nano-working comprises the steps of placing a workpiece near or at a working target of a particle accelerator, and accelerating, by means of said particle accelerator, a beam of particles towards the working target, thereby making a train of accelerate particles to locally impact the workpiece for drilling a through nanohole.

[0022] . The particle accelerator may comprise at least one electron gun.

[0023] . The particle accelerator may comprise at least one linear accelerator.

[0024] . The particle accelerator may comprise at least one cyclotron. For example, the cyclotron may be located upstream to the linear particle accelerator.

[0025] . The method comprises making a plurality of through nanoholes, next to one another on the workpiece, by means of making trains of accelerated nanoparticles to impact or collide in a variety of portions of the workpiece, thereby obtaining a nano-drilled piece.

[0026] . The method further comprises the steps of detecting information on position of each drilled through nano-hole, and automatically controlling at least one state parameter of the assembly or apparatus based on the detected information on the position of each drilled through nano-hole.

[0027] . The method may allow to realize the through nano-holes according to a computer-controlled predeterminable arrangement.

[0028] . The method may comprise repeating the steps of placing, accelerating, and making nanoholes for a plurality of workpieces, thereby making a plurality of nano-drilled pieces, so that to make a nano-drilled multilayered structure by means of addition of layers, such as layer-by-layer, wherein each layer is made by at least one respective nano-drilled piece.

[0029] . The method may comprise deposition of carbon nanostructures within the drilled nanoholes.

[0030] . The deposition may be cold deposition.

[0031] . For manufacturing a multilayered nano-drilled structure, the deposition step may be carried out alternate with a step of making a plurality of through nanoholes. I n this way, it is allowed to perform a deposition step on each layer after its own nano-drilling. A layer may be a block with thicknesssubstantially equal to its width.

[0032] . For manufacturing a multilayered nano-drilled structure, the deposition step may be carried out after a step of making a plurality of through nanoholes into a plurality of workpieces. I n this way, it is allowed to perform nano-drilling into a plurality of pieces and then deposing carbonic nanostructures inside the nanoholes drilled.

[0033] . The method may comprise, after a deposition step, the further steps of accelerating a further particle beam towards the working target, said further particle beam having width or diameter that is less than the width or diameter of the particle beam used to drill the workpiece, and impacting a plurality of trains of accelerated particles at the locations of the through nanoholes of the nano-drilled piece with carbonic nanostructures therewithin, so that to remove any occlusion of the through nanoholes that may have been caused by the deposition of said carbonic nanostructures while maintaining said carbonic nanostructures within the nanoholes. I n other words, should the deposition of carbonic nanostructures occlude the drilled nanoholes, a nanodrilling step may be performed with thinner accelerated particle beam, to ensure that the nanoholes with carbonic nanostructures therewithin are through nano-holes delimited by the carbonic nanostructures.

[0034] . The method may comprise the further step of making a multilayered structure wherein each layer of the multilayered structures comprises a nano-drilled piece with a plurality of nanoholes with carbonic nanostructures therewithin.

[0035] . According to an embodiment, carbonic nanostructures are sandwiched between two adjacent nano-drilled pieces, as an effect of carbonic nanostructures deposition since a layer of carbonic nanostructures may be located on the exposed surfaces of the nano-drilled piece.

[0036] . To assemble a plurality of nano-drilled pieces and / or a plurality of multilayered structures, the method may comprise a step of chemically assembling a plurality of nano-drilled pieces and / or a plurality of multilayered structures, by soaking the plurality of nano-drilled pieces within a bath with bonding agents. Preferably said bonding agents comprising thiols.

[0037] . The method may also comprise the step of assembling a plurality of multilayered nano-drilled structures, such as by stacking, overlapping, and / or placing next to one another the multilayered nano-drilled structures ofsaid plurality, with the purpose of building a nanocomposite tank for gas storage, such as hydrogen storage.

[0038] . According to an aspect of the invention, a nanocomposite tank for gas storage, such as hydrogen storage, comprises a plurality of multilayered nano-drilled structures comprising at least one nano-drilled piece of polymeric material with a plurality of through nanoholes, and carbonic nanostructures inserted into at least some of the through nanoholes drilled.

[0039] . The multilayered nano-drilled structures may comprise a plurality of layers including at least one nano-drilled piece of polymeric material with a plurality of through nanoholes. Within the through nano-holes are housed

[0040] . The carbon nanostructures of at least one nano-drilled piece may be doped, such as doped with metals of the platinum group.

[0041] . According to an aspect of the invention, an assembly or apparatus for nano-working comprises at least one particle accelerator, such as an electron gun, and a drilling chamber with at least one support to support at least one workpiece, such as a sample holder.

[0042] . The assembly or apparatus may also comprise a sputtering chamber for carbonic nanostructures deposition inside the nanoholes drilled on the polymeric material. The sputtering chamber may be located remotely from the drilling chamber.

[0043] . According to a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises an ion beam sputtering plant and said drilling chamber also acts as sputtering chamber for carbonic nanostructures deposition. Preferably, the working target and / or the support is for both the particle accelerator and the ion beam sputtering plant.

[0044] . The electronic control system may be configured to synchronize the particle accelerator with the ion beam sputtering plant. I n this way, it is possible to alternate a nano-drilling step with a sputtering step on the same workpiece.

[0045] . Preferably, a topological tube for collimating and directing the accelerated particle beam is placed between the particle accelerator and the drilling chamber. The topological tube may comprise a system to direct the beam based on a magnetic field. The topological tube may be configured to rotate or pivot about its own longitudinal axis that may extend along an its own longitudinal through-cavity where the accelerated particle beam passesthrough.

[0046] . The assembly or apparatus further comprises an electronic control system , which may be operatively connected to the topological tube for collimating and directing the accelerated particle beam (such as accelerated electron beam).

[0047] . The assembly or apparatus preferably also comprises an assembly chamber 35 to assemble a plurality of multilayered nano-drilled structures having deposition of carbonic nanostructures in the nanoholes thereof.

[0048] . By virtue of the proposed solutions, it is provided a method of nano-working for controlled nano-drilling of a workpiece.

[0049] . By virtue of the proposed solutions, an electron gun or other particle accelerator may be used to make a desired pattern of nano-drilling on a workpiece.

[0050] . The workpiece may be a membrane, a film , a bulk of polymeric material or composite material within polymeric matrix.

[0051] . Nano-drilling allows for manufacturing of through nanoholes with nano-sized or micro-sized cross-section, and for example the size of the nanoholes is less than 5000 nanometres, and more preferably it is less than 1500 nanometres.

[0052] . The obtained nanoholes can house carbon nanostructures, such as carbon nanotubes and / or carbonic polyanilines (with chemical formula p- C6H5N H2), that may be doped, for example, with metals of the platinum group.

[0053] . The resulting nano-drilled pieces may be stacked to form a multilayered nano-drilled structure.

[0054] . Deposition of carbonic nanoparticles may occur on the single layer nano-drilled piece and / or on the multilayered nano-drilled structure.

[0055] . A plurality of multilayered nano-drilled structures may be assembled, such as in a computer- controlled manner, for building a nanocomposite tank for gas storage, such as hydrogen storage.

[0056] . By virtue of the method, it is possible to manufacture the nanocomposite tank for gas storage, such as hydrogen storage.Brief description of the drawings

[0057] . Further features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description of some embodiments, given as non-limitingexamples, with reference to the attached figures, in which:-Figure 1 -A is an axonometric pictorial view that diagrammatically illustrates an assembly or apparatus, according to an embodiment, provided with a drilling chamber, wherein some parts are drawn transparent or in partial crosssection for sought of clarity;-Figure 1 -B is an axonometric pictorial view that diagrammatically illustrates an assembly or apparatus, according to an embodiment, provided with a drilling chamber, wherein some parts are transparent or in partial crosssection for sought of clarity;-Figure 2 is a flow chart showing some steps of a method, according to an embodiment;-Figure 3 is a diagram that shows the manufacturing of a plurality of through nanoholes, according to an embodiment, wherein the through nanoholes are shown in cross-section;-Figure 4-A illustrates diagrammatically and in cross-section a carbonic nanostructures deposition inside nanoholes, according to an embodiment;-Figure 4-B shows diagrammatically and in cross-section a carbonic nanostructures deposition inside nanoholes, according to an embodiment;- Figure 5-A is a flow chart that shows some possible steps of a method, according to an embodiment;-Figure 5- B is a cross-section that shows a workpiece during a possible step of a method, according to an embodiment;-Figure 5-C is a diagram that shows nano-drilling a plurality of through holes onto the workpiece of Figure 5-B, according to an embodiment;-Figure 6 is a perspective view of a computer modelling of a multilayered structure, according to an embodiment;-Figure 7 is a block diagram that shows an electronic control system, according to an embodiment;-Figures 8-A and 8-B are charts showing hydrogen absorption as a function of pressure, according to some exemplary embodiments;-Figure 9 shows a nanocomposite tank for gas storage, according to an embodiment;-Figure 10 shows a nanocomposite tank for gas storage with fractal geometry, according to an embodiment;-Figure 1 1 is a flow chart that shows some possible steps of a method,according to an embodiment;-Figures 12-A shows diagrammatically and in cross-section a nano-drilled piece with carbonic nanostructures deposited inside the nanoholes, according to an embodiment;- Figure 12-B shows diagrammatically and in cross-section a nano-drilling step on a portion of the piece of Figure 12-A, according to an embodiment;- Figure 13 is an axonometric pictorial view that diagrammatically illustrates an assembly or apparatus, according to an embodiment, provided with a drilling chamber, wherein some parts are transparent or in partial crosssection for sought of clarity;- Figure 14 is a block diagram that shows an assembly or apparatus, according to an embodiment.It is understood that references to “an” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily referred to the same embodiment and are to be meant as at least one. Furthermore, for conciseness and for reducing the total number of figures, a given Figure can be used to illustrate features of more than one embodiment, and not all the elements of a given Figure could be necessary for a certain embodiment.Detailed descriptions of some embodiments

[0058] . According to a general embodiment, it is provided a method of nano-working. The method of nano-working is intended for controlled nanodrilling of a substrate 14, i.e. , a workpiece 14 such as a membrane, a film , a sample, a bulk of polymeric material or composite material with polymeric matrix.

[0059] . The method of nano-working comprises the step of providing at least one workpiece 14. The workpiece 14 is at least partially made of polymeric material. For example, the workpiece 14 may be a substrate essentially polymeric. For example, the workpiece 14 may be formed by a composite material with polymeric matrix. According to an embodiment, the polymeric material and / or the polymeric matrix of the material is made of one of the following: polyurethane, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, any combination of the above. The workpiece 14 may have a membrane body (i.e. , substantially flat) .

[0060] . Advantageously, the method comprises the step of providing an assembly 10 or apparatus 10 for nano-working comprising at least one particleaccelerator 1 1 configured to direct and collimate a beam / train of accelerate particles 12 (such as accelerate electrons 12) towards a target that is placed within a drilling chamber 13 of the assembly 10.

[0061] . According to an embodiment, the particle accelerator 1 1 may be a linear particle accelerator. The linear particle accelerator may be operatively connected to a cyclotron, the cyclotron may be located upstream to the linear accelerator.

[0062] . According to a preferred embodiment, the particle accelerator is an electron gun 1 1 , such as of the type suited for electron beam drilling (“EBD”) . The electron gun 1 1 may be configured to accelerate exclusively electrons, thereby generating a beam / train of accelerated electrons 12.

[0063] . I n the following of this disclosure, reference will be made to an “electron gun 1 1 ” as well as a beam / train of “accelerated electrons 12”, although it is understood that the teachings of the present invention are applied also if the particle accelerator 1 1 does not comprise the electron gun and for example does comprise a linear particle accelerator and / or a cyclotron to accelerate particles that are not electrons.

[0064] . As shown for example in Figure 1 -A, the assembly 10 or apparatus 10 comprises an electron gun 1 1 and it is configured to direct and to collimate a beam / train of accelerated electrons 12 towards a target placed inside a drilling chamber 13 of the assembly 10.

[0065] . With additional advantage, the method comprises the step of placing the workpiece 14 near or at said target.

[0066] . The method also comprises the step of accelerating an electron beam 12 towards the target, thereby making the accelerated electrons to impact the workpiece 14. I n other words, a train of electrons 12 impacts the workpiece 14.

[0067] . By virtue of placing the workpiece 14 near or at the target of the assembly, the accelerated electron beam 12 collimates at the workpiece 14.

[0068] . It is understood that the step of placing may be carried out before the step of accelerating, although it may be carried out after it according to an embodiment.

[0069] . The train of accelerated electrons 12 towards the workpiece 14 allows for through nanohole 20 drilling into the workpiece.

[0070] . Advantageously, the method comprises drilling a plurality ofthrough nanoholes 20 next to one another into the workpiece as an effect of making the accelerated electrons 12 to impact, thereby making a nano-drilled piece 24. I n other words, the nano-drilled workpiece 24 is made from the workpiece 14 by applying the step of nano-drilling a plurality of through nanoholes 20 next to one another.

[0071] . To make the plurality of nanoholes 20 next to one another, preferably, one single through nanohole at time is drilled, i.e. , nano-holes are drilled one-by-one.

[0072] . The nanoholes 20 of the plurality of nanoholes are preferably drilled according to a computer-controlled arrangement. Preferably, drilling the nanoholes of the plurality of nanoholes next to one another means that the nanoholes develops across the polymeric material along a generally common direction, i. e. , they are expected to collide the workpiece 14 from the side thereof facing the beam of accelerated nanoparticles 12 although the through nanoholes needs not to be parallel to each other. It is understood that saying that the plurality of nanoholes is drilled next to one another, it also encompasses the case in which the nanoholes are arranged randomly if the particle accelerator 1 1 is configured for doing so.

[0073] . Preferably, the workpiece 14 is placed to have one side facing the accelerated electron beam 12, so that the electrons can pass through its own thickness, thereby drilling the workpiece thickness.

[0074] . The assembly 10 or apparatus 10 comprises at least one electron gun 1 1 to realize said accelerated electron beam 12 and a drilling chamber 13. As mentioned, the apparatus 10 may comprise at least one particle accelerator 1 1 , such as the electron gun, to make an accelerated particle beam 12.

[0075] . The apparatus also comprises an electronic control system 17. The electronic control system may comprise an electronic control unit such as a PLC or a H PC unit.

[0076] . The drilling chamber 13 comprises, preferably, at least one support 31 to support at least one workpiece 14, such as a sample holder 31 . The support 31 may be suitable for keeping steady in a known position the workpiece 14. The support 31 may be configured to move (such as repositioning and / or re-orienting) the workpiece 14 to drill at the desired location. For example, the support may re-position and re-orient with respectto the electron gun 1 1 to drill the through nanoholes 20 next to one another into the workpiece. Repositioning may also encompasses moving the support 31 towards / away from the electron gun 1 1 .

[0077] . Between the electron gun 1 1 and the drilling chamber 13, means for collimating and directing the beam of accelerated electrons are envisaged.

[0078] . According to an embodiment, between the electron gun 1 1 and the drilling chamber 13, the assembly 10 comprises a hollow tube 15 (also referred to as “topological tube 15”) for collimating and directing the beam of accelerated electrons. The topological tube 15 comprises a system for directing the beam with magnetic field 16. The topological tube 15 comprises, preferably, a longitudinal through-cavity intended for the transit of the accelerated electron beam 12 headed for the target.

[0079] . The assembly 10 or apparatus 10 further comprises an electronic control system 17. The electronic control system has preferably a relation of operative connection 25 with the topological tube 15 for collimating and directing the accelerated electron beam 12. I n this way, the topological tube15 for collimating and directing the accelerated electron beam is operable under the control of the electronic control system 17.

[0080] . Under the control of said electronic control system 17, it may be envisaged a plurality of magnets with coils arranged around the cross-section of the topological tube, i.e. , around the longitudinal cavity thereof, with the aim of making the system for directing the beam 16 by means of a magnetic influence on the electrons travelling within the cavity of the topological tube 15. Other arrangements of the magnets of the system for directing the beam16 are possible.

[0081] . The topological tube 15 is preferably configured to direct and collimate the beam of accelerated particles 12 according to a 3D geometry. According to an embodiment, the support 31 and the topological tube are movable with respect to one another at least in a direction substantially parallel to the travel direction X of the accelerated particles 12 of the beam (i.e. depth or thickness).

[0082] . The electronic control system 17 may be configured to control the drive and / or the power output of the electron gun 1 1. The electron gun 1 1 may comprise an its own drive unit 26 that may be operatively connected to the electronic control system 17.

[0083] . Preferably, each train of accelerated electrons 12 drills one through nanohole 20, and subsequently, the electron gun 1 1 switches in a suspended mode in which the topological tube 15 is reconfigured to direct and collimate a new train of accelerated electrons in the desired location, such as next to the through nanohole 20 previously drilled, and at this moment the electron gun 1 1 is restarted. While the electronic gun 1 1 is switched in said suspended mode, deposition of carbonic nanostructures 21 may be performed.

[0084] . Alternatively or in addition, after a train of accelerated electrons 12 has drilled a through nanohole 20, the support 31 of the workpiece reposition and / or reorient the workpiece 14 with respect to the electron gun 1 1 , with the purpose of realizing a new train of accelerated electrons 12 in a new location, such as next to the nanohole 20 previously drilled. The repositioning and / or reorienting of the support 31 is carried out, preferably, under control of the electronic control system 17.

[0085] . Alternatively or in addition, after a train of accelerated electrons 12 has drilled a through nanohole 20, the electron gun 1 1 is repositioned and / or reoriented, in order to make a new train of accelerated electrons 12 in a new location, such as next to the nanohole 20 previously drilled. The repositioning and / or the reorienting of the support is carried out, preferably, under control of the electronic control system 17, which may cooperate with the drive unit 26 of the electron gun 1 1.

[0086] . It is understood that the step of drilling a plurality of through nanoholes 20, i.e. , the step of nano-drilling, may realise a sort of milling or other machining that allows to remove a volume of material that is larger than the size of the train of accelerated particles 12 that drills the body of the workpiece 14. For example, this may be obtained by means of adjusting and synchronization of the state parameters of the electron gun 1 1 with the system for directing the beam 16 of the topological tube 15, for example by means of a pulse generator 28 with caesium clock. For example, in this manner it is possible to drill through holes with substantially quadrilateral cross-section, as well as through holes with micrometric size and, where necessary, with millimetric size.

[0087] . Between the electron gun 1 1 and the topological tube 15, one or more auxiliary beam focussing systems 23 may be located for focussing the beam of accelerated electrons 12.

[0088] . To drill the plurality of through nanoholes 20 next to one another into the workpiece 14, said workpiece 14 is preferably placed near or at the target within the drilling chamber 13. The joint action of the electron gun 1 1 and the topologic tube 15 under control of the electronic control system 17 may allow for controlled drilling of a plurality of through nanoholes 20 next to one another into the workpiece 14.

[0089] . According to an embodiment, the through nanoholes 20 next to one another of said plurality are all substantially parallel to each other. I n other words, the trains of accelerated electrons 12 that follow one another to drill the through nanoholes 20 have all same orientation during the drilling of the through nanoholes of said plurality. That can be obtained by suitably acting on the topological tube 15 and / or on the electron gun 1 1 , for example by mutual repositioning without reorienting and / or by mutual reorienting without repositioning the support 31 for the workpiece 14.

[0090] . According to another embodiment, the through nanoholes 20 of said plurality have different orientation, i.e. , they develop through the body of the nano-drilled piece 24 obtained starting from the workpiece 14 along directions that are mutually incident. Preferably, although the directions of development of the through nanoholes 20 are mutually incident, there is no continuity among the drilled nanoholes across the thickness of the nanodrilled piece 24. The adjustment of the orientation (inclination) parameters of the trains of accelerated electrons 12 may be obtained by acting on the topological tube 15. As mentioned, the adjustment may be obtained by reorienting the support 31 for the workpiece 14 and / or the electron gun 1 1.

[0091] . According to an embodiment, the through nanoholes 20 next to one another of said plurality are disjointed and separated from one another, thereby realizing hole rims 22 or hole edges 22 flanked one another on a same surface of the nano-drilled piece 24, which may correspond to the surface 29 of the workpiece 14 facing the beam of accelerated electrons 12.

[0092] . For example, to drill disjointed and separated through nanoholes 20, the electron gun 1 1 is switched on intermittently to avoid drilling portions of the workpieces 14 that are located in between two adjacent locations wherein two subsequent nanoholes 20 are to be drilled.

[0093] . To manage synchronizing trains of accelerated electrons 12 outputted from the electron gun 1 1 with the reconfiguration of the topologicaltube 15, a pulse generator 28 may be provided, such as a pulse generator with clock based on the transition of caesium, the pulse generator being operatively connected with the electron gun 1 1 (drive unit 26 thereof), for example by means of the electronic control system 17.

[0094] . According to an embodiment, the through nanoholes 20 drilled have cross-section substantially circular with diameter that belongs to the range from 15 to 1500 nanometres. According to an embodiment, the through nanoholes 20 have diameter that belongs to the range from 50 to 500 nanometres. Workpiece thickness may be less than 10 millimetres and according to an embodiment is comprised between 0,5 and 5 millimetres, and for example it is 2 millimetres.

[0095] . The through nanoholes 20 may have shape and / or size, i.e. , cross-sectional area, different from each other. For example, by adjusting the power of the trains of accelerated electrons 12 (or, as mentioned, other particles) it is possible to achieve different nano-drilling arrangements into the same workpiece 14 as well as machining / milling / shaping the workpiece by material removal.

[0096] . According to a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the following further steps of: (i) detecting information on the position of each through nanoholes 20 drilled; and (ii) automatically controlling at least one state parameter of the assembly 10 or apparatus 10 based on the detected information about the position of each through nanoholes 20 drilled.

[0097] . The at least one state parameter may include a parameter of the topological tube 15, such as the driving current of the respective magnets of the system for beam directing with magnetic field, the rotation of the topological tube 15 about its own longitudinal axis X15.

[0098] . The at least one state parameter controlled may comprise a parameter of the electron gun 1 1 , such as beam power, train duration, beam orientation and location.

[0099] . The at least one state parameter controlled may comprise a parameter of the support 31 for the workpiece 14, such as position and orientation of the support 31 inside the drilling chamber 13.

[0100] . The topological tube 15 may comprise an its own moving device 27, which for example comprises a motor driven under control of the electronic control system 17, the moving device is able to rotate the topological tube 15about its own longitudinal axis X15. Preferably, the topological tube 15 is located with respect to the electron gun 1 1 and / or the focussing device 23 in such a way that the direction of travelling of the beam of accelerated electrons12 is substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis X15 of the topological tube 15.

[0101] . According to a preferred embodiment, inside the drilling chamber13 it is provided an impact detector 18, to detect information on the position of each through nanoholes 20 drilled, and the electronic control system 17 may be configured for transmit control signals to the topological tube 15 based on the detected information about the position of each through nanoholes 20 drilled. The impact detector 18 may be an electron detector 18, i.e. , a sensor that is located behind the workpiece 14 (i.e. , in the shade of the workpiece with respect to the beam of accelerated electrons) , so that the train of accelerated electrons 12, after having drilled a through hole 20 and therethrough, leaves a local footprint on the impact detector 18 that is able to provide the electronic control system 17 with information about the location (position) of the through nanoholes 20 that have been drilled.

[0102] . Control signals that are transmitted from the electronic control system 17 to the topological tube 15 may aim to control the power of the magnetic field generated by the system 16, for example by means of adjusting the current flowing within the respective coils.

[0103] . Control signals that are transmitted from the electronic control system 17 to the topological tube 15 may aim to drive rotation of the topological tube 15 about its own longitudinal axis X15, that is preferably substantially aligned with the direction of travel X of the beam of accelerated electrons 12.

[0104] . The at least one state parameter of the apparatus 10 that is controlled may include: power and / or position and / or orientation of the beam of accelerated electrons 12.

[0105] . For example, to control position and orientation of the beam of accelerated electrons, said control signals may be transmitted to the topological tube 15.

[0106] . The method may further comprise the step of arranging the through nanoholes 20 of said plurality according to a desired configuration, such as in rows and / or ranks, wherein the desired configuration can be set upby a user. For example, the desired configuration set by a user is processed by an image processor and it is stored within a memory 30, which is in turn operatively connected to the topological tube 15, by means of the electronic control system 17, so that the topological tube 15 and the electron gun 1 1 may cooperate to drill the desired, controlled nano-drilling pattern into the workpiece 14, based on the information that comes back from the impact detector 18. It may be envisaged to provide a second memory 32 comprising information on the machine data history, said second memory being operatively connected to the electronic control system 17. This additional memory 32 may comprise a database including all the relevant events that are stored in chronological order.

[0107] . According to a preferred embodiment, the method comprises making a multilayered piece 124, formed by nano-drilling of a plurality of workpieces 14. It is understood that a layer of the multilayered structure may be a block with substantially cubic shape.

[0108] . The plurality of workpieces may be drilled individually, i.e. , one at time, to form the multilayered piece 124.

[0109] . According to an embodiment, the at least one workpiece 14 comprises a plurality of workpieces 14, 14’, wherein the step of drilling comprises drilling a plurality of through nanoholes 20 into each workpiece of said plurality, thereby obtaining a plurality of nano-drilled pieces 24, 24’.

[0110] . I n this case, the method may comprise, after the steps of placing, accelerating and drilling, the further steps of placing a new workpiece 14’ near or at said target; and accelerating a train of electrons 12 towards the target, thereby making accelerated electrons to impact onto the new workpiece 14’; and drilling a plurality of through nanoholes 20 flaked one another into the new workpiece 14’, as effect of making the accelerated electrons to impact, thereby obtaining a new nano-drilled piece 24’.[001 11 ]. The assembly of the multilayered structure 124 is preferably carried out layer-by-layer, by associating the new workpiece 14’ to the nanodrilled piece 24, before the step of drilling a plurality of through nanoholes 20 into the new nano-drilled piece 24’, as shown for example in Figures 5-B and 5-C. For example, the new workpiece 14’ may be glued to the nano-drilled piece 24.[001 12]. For example, the electronic control system 17 receives multiplereports at the same time: one report that follows the creation of two instruction files of the topological tube 15 and one from the impact detector 18, it stores them temporarily, and upon completion of the nano-drilling of one layer, it carries out a comparison for sought after possible drilling errors. The electronic control system 17 may be configured for detect and discriminate an anomaly and accordingly executing an automatic correction. The electronic control system 17 may, by means of said memory 30 and / or said additional memory 32, access to instructions related to layer overlapping for building a multilayered nano-drilled structure 124.[001 13]. The assembly of the multilayered nano-drilled structure 124 may be carried out layer-by-layer, by associating the nano-drilled piece 24 with the new nano-drilled piece 24’. For example, the new nano-drilled piece 24’ may be glued to the nano-drilled piece 24.[001 14]. The nano-drilled layers 24, 24’ of the multilayered material 124 obtained may have all substantially same cross-section with the through nanoholes 20 all aligned to each other.[001 15]. According to an embodiment, some layers have one or more cuts that define one or more cantilevered portions for a superimposed, adjacent, layer.[001 16]. Preferably, the assembly of the multilayered structure comprises aligning the through nanoholes 20 of the nano-drilled pieces of said plurality, thereby making a multilayered structure 124 comprising a plurality of through nanoholes 20 next to another. I n other words, this step may envisage to locate the through nanoholes 20 of the layers of the multilayered structure 124 in mutual correspondence to obtain through nanoholes into the resulting multilayered nano-drilled structure 124.[001 17]. The nanohole arrangement within the layers as well as the layer configuration may have a fractal geometry. The layers, i.e. , the nano-drilled pieces that form the layers of the resulting multilayered structure can have the nanoholes that are arranged in a way that forms a Sierpinski’s carpet. The obtained multilayered structure may form , for example, a Menger’s sponge, as shown for example in Figure 6. To this end, cuts may be done in some nano- drilled layers 24, 24’ of the multilayered nano-drilled structure 124 obtained. [001 18]. To drill through nanoholes in a mutual orthogonal direction it is possible to rotate the nano-drilled piece 24 of 90° and repeating the nano-drilling with the electron gun 1 1 .[001 19]. The electron gun 1 1 , the topological tube 15 and the drilling chamber 13 may be located inside a vacuum chamber (not shown).

[0120] . By virtue of such a method, it is allowed to operate nano-drilling with an electron beam 12 emitted by an electron gun 1 1 with a system for directing and collimating the beam (topological tube 15).

[0121] . According to a preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the step of deposition, within the through nanoholes 20 obtained, of carbonic nanostructures 21 . Carbonic nanostructures 21 may be carbon nanotubes and / or fullerenes and / or carbonic nanowires and / or carbonic polyanilines, and they may be doped with metals of the group of platinum . According to another embodiment, carbonic nanostructures are doped with metals of the group of lead.

[0122] . According to an embodiment, the step of carbonic nanostructures deposition is carried out by means of a cold deposition technique, to avoid alteration of the polymeric substrate.

[0123] . The deposition step may be alternated with the step of drilling through nanoholes 20.

[0124] . The deposition step is preferably executed after having drilled through nanoholes 20. The deposition step may be carried out, for example, on one nano-drilled piece at time or on more than one nano-drilled piece at time.

[0125] . As shown, for example, in Figure 12-A, the deposition step may cause formation of a coating layer onto one or more the exposed surfaces of the nano-drilled pieces 24, such as the surface 29. I n this case, the method may comprise the further step of making a multilayered structure 124 wherein each layer of the multilayered structures comprises a nano-drilled piece with a plurality of nanoholes 20 with carbonic nanostructures 21 therewithin, and wherein carbonic nanostructures 21 are sandwiched between two adjacent polymeric nano-drilled pieces. Thereby, the multilayered structure may comprise an alternation of polymeric and carbonic layers.

[0126] . According to a preferred embodiment, after a deposition step, the method comprises the steps of accelerating a further particle beam towards the working target, said further particle beam having width or diameter that is less than the width or diameter of the particle beam used to drill the workpiece,and impacting a plurality of trains of accelerated particles at the locations of the through nanoholes 20 of the nano-drilled piece 24 with carbonic nanostructures 21 therewithin. I n this way, it is possible to remove any occlusion of the through nanoholes that may have been caused by the deposition of said carbonic nanostructures 21 while maintaining said carbonic nanostructures within the drilled nanoholes 20, as shown, for example, in Figure 12-B.

[0127] . The assembly 10 or apparatus 10 may comprise a deposition chamber 19 for deposition of carbonic nanostructures 21.

[0128] . The drilling chamber 13 may act also as a sputtering chamber 19, as shown, for example, in Figure 13.

[0129] . As shown, for example, in Figure 14, the electronic control system 17 may be configured to synchronize the particle accelerator 1 1 with the ion beam sputtering plant 36. I n this way, it is possible to alternate a nanodrilling step with a sputtering step on the same workpiece within the same chamber that serves for both drilling and sputtering (deposition of carbonic nanostructures). The synchronization may be based on a pulse generator 28 with caesium clock that is operatively connected to the electronic control system 17.

[0130] . According to an embodiment, the deposition chamber 19 is a sputtering chamber 19.

[0131] . The deposition chamber 19 may be separated from the drilling chamber 13, and the nano-drilled piece 24 may be transported between the drilling chamber and the deposition chamber by means of a device for moving the support 31 for the workpiece. The support 31 may be moved from the drilling chamber 13 to the deposition chamber 19 using one or more actuators.

[0132] . The support 31 of the nano-drilled piece may be moved from the deposition chamber 19 back to the drilling chamber 13.

[0133] . To assemble a plurality of nano-drilled pieces and / or a plurality of multilayered structures, the method may comprise the step of chemically bonding, and in particular by soaking the plurality of nano-drilled pieces within a bath with bonding agents. Preferably said bonding agents comprises thiols.

[0134] . The method may also comprise the step of assembling a plurality of multilayered nano-drilled structures 124, such as by stacking, overlapping, and / or placing next to one another the multilayered nano-drilled structures ofsaid plurality, with the purpose of building a nanocomposite tank 100 for gas storage, such as for hydrogen storage.

[0135] . According to an embodiment, each layer is drilled in a spatially controlled arrangement according to the Sierpinski’s carpet equation, each layer is then bonded to an adjacent layer by means of soaking in a bath of thiols, so that to assemble a cubic structure of shape of a Menger’s sponge, then each cubic structure is assembled to other cubic structures so that to form a poly-cube of shape of a Menger’s sponge, according to a fractal configuration.

[0136] . By virtue of such a method, comprising said deposition step, it is possible to build a nanostructured tank 100 for gas storage, such as hydrogen storage.

[0137] . The nanostructured tank 100 is preferably manufactured according to a method, according to any one of the embodiments described above.

[0138] . The nanostructured tank 100 is preferably manufactured using an assembly 10 or apparatus 10, according to any one of the embodiments described above, comprising a particle accelerator 1 1 (i.e. , said electron gun 1 1 ).

[0139] . According to a general embodiment, a nanostructured tank 100 for gas storage comprises body of nano-drilled material, made at least partially of polymeric material and provided with a plurality of through nanoholes 20 next to one another.

[0140] . According to an embodiment, the through nanoholes 20 are mutually aligned and mutually parallel to each other.

[0141] . The nanostructured tank 100 for gas storage further comprises a plurality of carbonic nanostructures 21 located inside at least some through nanoholes 20 of said plurality.

[0142] . According to an embodiment, the nanocomposite tank 100 for gas storage, such as hydrogen storage, comprises a plurality of multilayered nanodrilled structures 124 comprising at least one nano-drilled piece 24, 24’ of polymeric material with a plurality of through nanoholes 20, and carbonic nanostructures 21 are inserted into at least some of the through nanoholes 20 drilled.

[0143] . The multilayered nano-drilled structures 124 may comprise aplurality of layers including at least one nano-drilled piece 24, 24’ of polymeric material with a plurality of through nanoholes, as mentioned.

[0144] . The carbonic nanostructures 21 may be provided as an intermediate layer sandwiched between two adjacent layers of the multilayered nano-drilled structure 124, wherein at least some carbonic nanostructures 21 may be housed inside the drilled through nanoholes 20 of said layers of multilayered nano-drilled structure 124.

[0145] . As mentioned, the carbon nanostructures 21 of at least one nano- drilled piece may be doped, such as doped with metals of the platinum group.

[0146] . The nanostructured tank 100 comprises, preferably, a multilayered structure 124 that may have fractal geometry. According to an embodiment, the multilayered structure 124 of the nanostructured tank is a Menger’s sponge. Each layer of the multilayered structure 124 may have through nanoholes 20 arranged along a predetermined configuration, and for example they are arranged according to the equation of the Sierpinski’s carpet.

[0147] . According to an embodiment, the through nanoholes 20 are drilled on a nano-drilled piece 24 according to a computer-controlled predetermined arrangement, such as distributed around a cavity of the polymeric material, and wherein also the nano-drilled pieces 24, 24’ are assembled, such as stacked and / or placed next to one another forming said multilayered nano- drilled structure 124, according to the same computer-controlled predetermined arrangement (i.e. , around a cavity) , and wherein also the multilayered nano-drilled structures 124 are assembled, such as stacked and / or placed next to one another, according to the same computer-controlled predetermined arrangement (i.e. , around a cavity 33 forming bridges 34 around said cavity), so that the nanocomposite tank 100 has a fractal geometry structure, like a Menger’s sponge, as shown for example in Figure 10.

[0148] . The nanostructured tank 100 may be substantially a nanostructured sponge, wherein the arrangement of nanoholes 20 is computer controlled.

[0149] . As mentioned, the through nanoholes 20 are preferably drilled with use of a particle accelerator 1 1 , such as an electron gun 1 1 .

[0150] . The nanostructured tank 100 may have hydrogen absorptioncapacity substantially equal to 4% in weight at a pressure in range 1 -40 bar, and preferably at pressure in range 2-20 bar, and at room temperature (293K) .Example 1

[0151] . According to this example, an accelerated electron beam 12 passes through the topological tube 15, the latter can deviate each single train of electrons travelling therein to determine the impact location with nanometric resolution; this can be obtained by virtue of a control system 17 synchronized to the billionth of a second that, electronically, pilots the variation of the magnetic field inside the topological tube 15. The electron beam 12 is focussed within the work area of the topological tube 15, which in turn receives a set of coordinates defining the impact location of the train of accelerated electrons at the working target of the drilling chamber 13. This information has, as mentioned, a clock of one billionth of a second and it is managed by the electronic control system 17 (for example comprising a H PC unit) that sends at said frequency the pulses needed for offsetting from the initial target, thereby creating a series of impact points that is ordinated and controlled onto the surface 29 of the workpiece 14 facing the electron beam source. Said series of impact points may be changed, where necessary, both in terms of locations and in terms of impact frequency, thereby obtaining the capability of building a texture that is pre-determined mathematically by the electronic control system 17.Example 2

[0152] . According to this example, the deposition (sputtering) chamber 19 is located in a separate location with respect to the drilling chamber 13. The support 31 executes a move with the workpiece towards the deposition chamber 19. The nano-deposition process of the carbonic nanostructures 21 is then carried out within said deposition (sputtering) chamber. Where appropriate, the material is then brought back into the drilling chamber 13 and in this way, it can be engraved or drilled again.Example 3

[0153] . According to this example, the nanocomposite tank 100 for hydrogen storage includes carbonic nanostructures 21 that can retain hydrogen at pressure below 40 bar and at room temperature. The carbonic nanostructures 21 are deposed onto nano-drilled polymeric membranes (i.e. , said nano-drilled pieces 24, 24’) by means of a particle accelerator 1 1 . Fordeposition of the carbonic nanostructures 21 , “wet” techniques may be used, such as those commonly used for carbon nanotubes or nanowire or fullerene deposition, such as the dip-and-dry technique.

[0154] . The carbonic nanostructures 21 may be, because of their performance in terms of gravimetric density, multi walled carbon nanotubes (MW-CNT in Fig.8-A) doped with platinum and / or ruthenium and / or iridium . The carbonic nanostructures may be, because of their performance in terms of gravimetric density, carbonic polyanilines (chemical formula: P-C6H5NH2) doped with platinum and / or ruthenium and / or iridium . As shown in Figures 8- A and 8-B, at room temperature (293K) and 30 bar pressure, it is possible to obtain gravimetric density of about 1 1 % in weight for carbonic polyanilines doped with iridium and of about 8% in weight for multi walled carbon nanotubes doped with iridium. Such two Figures 8-A and 8-B compare the results obtained for the two materials doped with the aforesaid three metals (i.e. , platinum, ruthenium, iridium). For what concerns the multi walled carbon nanotubes (MW-CNT) , with pressure near 10 bar, the gravimetric densities for the aforesaid combination of materials are closed to 4% in weight. The carbonic nanostructure 21 selected are deposited on both sides of the polymeric membranes 24, 24’ . The membranes are then overlapped and stacked to form a multi-layered structure 124. A series of multilayered structures 124 are then assembled for building a nanostructured tank 100 for gas storage.

[0155] . To measure the capacity of said nanostructured tank 100, and, in particular, for hydrogen absorption and adsorption, a Sieverts apparatus may be used. By virtue of such a Sieverts apparatus it is also possible to optimize performance of the material by changing doping and thickness of deposition.

[0156] . Upon material optimization and measurement of the properties, a step of filling the stack of layers of the tank 100 with hydrogen to be stored can begin. The stack of layers is put inside a dedicate cylinder with valves to generate positive and negative pressure inside the cylinder. The cylinder is closed and, using a vacuum turbomolecular cryogenic pump, the multilayered structures 124 of the tank 100 as well as the singles nano-drilled membranes 24, 24’ of the multilayered structures 124 are vacuum-packed. A hydrogenstoring reservoir is connected to the aforesaid cylinder. Upon opening of a valve, hydrogen flows inside the vacuum cylinder. A pressure gauge and athermometer are located onto the cylinder, and log on a SD-card with date / time detection, inner temperature of the cylinder, pressure. Then, it is closed the hydrogen inlet valve and reached a given pressure level inside the cylinder based on the Fick’s diffusivity constant. It is then opened the main valve of the cylinder and in this way the pressure goes back to atmospheric pressure. Within the inner chamber of the cylinder, that still houses the nanostructured tank 100, it is inputted air until the pressure reaches the atmospheric pressure.

[0157] . To the nanostructured tank 100 may be applied ultrasound transductor to promote hydrogen release, that will be tested by locating the tank, for example, within the Sieverts apparatus.Example 4

[0158] . According to this example, the drilling chamber 13 also acts as deposition (sputtering) chamber and the support 31 of the workpiece acts both as target for the particle accelerator and the ion beam sputtering plant 36. After having drilled a plurality of nanoholes, the particle accelerator is switched in a suspended mode and the deposition of carbonic nanostructures is performed. The carbonic nanostructures may occlude the nanoholes, so a further nano-drilling is then performed, this time with accelerated particle beam that is thinner, so that to ensure that the nanoholes are through nanoholes contoured with carbonic nanostructures. The deposition of carbonic nanostructures causes a coating layer on the exposed surface of the nanodrilled piece, therefore when a plurality of nano-drilled pieces with carbonic nanostructures within the nanoholes are assembled forming a multilayered structure, said multilayered structure comprise an alternation of polymeric and carbonic layers with through nanoholes filled with carbonic nanostructures. To assembly the plurality of nano-drilled pieces with carbonic nanostructures within the nanoholes, such a plurality of nano-drilled pieces is moved to an assembly chamber 35 where there is a bath of bonding agents such as thiols, to chemical bond together the plurality of nano-drilled pieces with carbonic nanostructures.

[0159] . By virtue of the features described above, provided either jointly or disjointly in specific embodiments, it is possible to respond to the aforesaid needs obtaining the advantages mentioned, and in particular:

[0160] . - it is provided a method able to perform nano-drilling on apolymeric substrate, such as a film, a membrane, a sample, a bulk, in a controlled manner;

[0161] . -preferably, deposition of carbonic nanostructures within the nanoholes drilled is performed;

[0162] . - after deposition of carbonic nanostructures within the nanoholes drilled, to avoid that the carbonic nanostructures deposition occludes the through nanoholes drilled, a further nano-drilling with particle accelerator may be preformed, this time with a thinner accelerated particle beam , so that to make the through nanoholes contoured by carbonic nanostructures;

[0163] . - therefore, it is possible to maximize the surface area over volume ratio of the deposited carbonic nanostructures of the resulting tank for gas storage;

[0164] . - the nano-drilled pieces may then be stacked or otherwise assembled as building blocks to form multilayered nano-drilled structures;

[0165] . - to assembly together the nano-drilled pieces, chemical bonding may be performed, such as by soaking the pieces in a bath with thiols;

[0166] . - for example, a nano-drilled piece may form a layer of the multilayered nano-drilled structure;

[0167] . - the multilayered nano-drilled structures may be assembled as building blocks with the purpose of building a hydrogen tank for gas storage;

[0168] . - the resulting nanocomposite tank has optimized area density of hydrogen storing capacity per unit of surface area of the polymeric substrate;

[0169] . - the multilayered nano-drilled structures may be a multilayered wafer;

[0170] . - it is provided a nanocomposite tank for gas storage with nano- drilled holes filled with carbonic nanostructures;

[0171] . - a metamaterial can be manufactured.

[0172] . It is understood that the combinations of features of the appended claims are part of this description.

[0173] . To the embodiments described above, those skilled in the art may bring changes and adaptations and may replace elements with others that are functionally equivalents to satisfy contingent needs, without however departing from the scope of the appended claims.LIST OF REFERENCE NU M BERS10 Assembly or apparatus for nano-working11 Particle accelerator, such as electron gun12 Beam or trains of accelerated particles13 Drilling chamber , 14’ Workpiece15 Topological tube16 System for directing the beam17 Electronic control system18 Impact detector19 Deposition or sputtering chamber20 Through nanohole21 Carbonic nanostructure22 Hole edge or rim23 Focus device , 24’ Nano-drilled piece25 Operative connection tube-control system26 Drive unit27 Device for moving the topological tube28 Pulse generator29 Surface of the workpiece facing the particle beam30 Memory31 Support for the workpiece32 Additional memory33 Cavity34 Bridge35 Assembly chamber36 Ion beam sputtering plant100 Nanocomposite tank for gas storage124 Multilayered nano-drilled structureX Direction of travel of the particle beamX15 Longitudinal axis of the topological tube

Claims

CLAI M S1. Method of nano-working comprising the following steps of:- providing at least one workpiece (14) at least partially made of polymeric material;- providing an apparatus (10) for nano-working comprising a particle accelerator (1 1 ) and a working target;- placing the workpiece (14) near or at said working target;- accelerating, by means of the particle accelerator, a particle beam towards the working target, so that to locally impact a train of accelerated particles to the workpiece, thereby drilling a through nanohole (20);- drilling a plurality of through nanoholes (20) next to another into the workpiece, by means of impacting a plurality of trains of accelerated particles in a variety of portions of the workpiece, thereby obtaining a nano-drilled piece (24) .

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the through nanoholes (20) next to another of said plurality are mutually separated and disjointed, thereby realizing hole rims (22) next to one another, and mutually separated and disjointed.

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising the steps of:- detecting information on the position of each through nanohole (20) drilled;- automatically controlling at least one state parameter of the apparatus (10) based on the detected information about the position of each nanohole drilled; and preferably, the method also comprises the step of drilling the nanoholes according to a predeterminable arrangement.

4. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:- repeating the steps of placing, accelerating and drilling for a plurality of workpieces, thereby obtaining a plurality of nano-drilled pieces;- realizing a multilayered nano-drilled structure (124) by addition of layers, such as layer-by-layer, wherein each layer is made of at least one respective nano-drilled piece.

5. Method according to claim 4, wherein the step of realizing the multilayered nano-drilled structure (124) comprises:- placing a second workpiece (14’) on a first nano-drilled piece (24) , for example at direct and intimate contact therewith, near or at the working target;- accelerating a particle beam towards the working target, thereby locallyimpacting a train of accelerated particles to the second workpiece (14’), thereby drilling a through nanohole (20) ;- drilling a plurality of through nanoholes (20) next to another into the second workpiece at the through nanoholes (20) of the first nano-drilled piece, by impacting a plurality of trains of accelerated particles to a variety of portions of the second workpiece that are substantially coincident with the locations of the through nanoholes of the first nano-drilled piece (24); and wherein, preferably, the method also comprises the step of- rotating of 90° the piece with respect to the particle accelerator to drill mutually orthogonal through nanoholes.

6. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the further step of:- deposition, within the drilled through nanoholes (20), of carbonic nanostructure (21 ), such as carbon nanotubes and / or carbonic polyanilines; wherein, preferably, the deposition step envisages cold deposition of said carbonic nanostructures; and wherein, preferably, the method comprises the step of realizing a multilayered nano-drilled structure (124) ; wherein, for example, a deposition step is carried out in alternation with a step of realizing a plurality of through nanoholes.

7. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the accelerated particles comprise electrons, and preferably exclusively comprise electrons.

8. Apparatus (10) comprising:-a particle accelerator (1 1 ), to make a beam of accelerated particles (12);- a nano-drilling chamber (13) comprising at least one support (31 ) to support at least one workpiece (14);- an electronic control system (17) for directing and collimating the beam of accelerated particles (12) .

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a topological tube (15) , for directing and collimating the beam of accelerated particles (12) , the topological tube being located between the particle accelerator (1 1 ) and the nano-drilling chamber (13) , the topological tube comprising a system for directing the beam based on a magnetic field, said topological tube being operatively connected to the electronic control system (17) for collimating anddirecting the beam of accelerated particles (12) ; wherein, preferably, the topological tube is movable in rotation about an its own longitudinal axis (X15) ; and / or wherein, the apparatus comprises an impact detector (18), for detecting information on the location of each through nanohole drilled; and wherein, preferably, the electronic control system is configured to transmit control signals to the topological tube based on the detected information on the location of each nanohole drilled; and / or wherein, the apparatus comprises a sputtering chamber (19) for carbonic nanostructures deposition; and / or wherein the particle accelerator is an electron beam.

10. Nanocomposite tank (100) for gas storage comprising:- a body of multilayered nano-drilled material, at least made of polymeric material, having a plurality of through nanoholes next to one another;- a plurality of carbonic nanostructures (21 ) within at least some through nanoholes of said plurality; and wherein the nanocomposite tank is obtainable with a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7; wherein, preferably, the carbonic nanostructures of said plurality comprise: -carbon nanotubes, and preferably multi-walled carbon nanotubes doped with metals of the platinum group, such as platinum , ruthenium and / or iridium; and / or- carbonic polyanilines, for example with chemical formula p-C6H5N H2, preferably carbonic polyanilines doped with metal of the platinum group, such as platinum , ruthenium and / or iridium ; and / or wherein- the nanocomposite tank comprises a plurality of through nanoholes that are arranged according to a fractal geometry, and preferably it is substantially a Menger’s sponge, wherein, preferably, each layer comprises through nanoholes arranged according to the Sierpinski’s carpet equation; and / or wherein the nanocomposite tank having gas adsorption capacity, for example hydrogen adsorption capacity, substantially equal to 4% in weight at pressure belonging to the range 1 -40 bar, and preferably comprises between 2 bar and 20 bar, and at room temperature, i.e. , 293K.

11. Method according to claim 6, comprising, after a deposition step, the further steps of:- accelerating a further particle beam towards the working target, said further particle beam having width or diameter that is less than the width or diameter of the particle beam used to drill the workpiece;- impacting a plurality of trains of accelerated particles at the locations of the through nanoholes (20) of the nano-drilled piece (24) with carbonic nanostructures therewithin, so that to remove any occlusion of the through nanoholes that may have been caused by the deposition of said carbonic nanostructures while maintaining said carbonic nanostructures within the nanoholes.

12. Method according to claim 6 or 1 1 , comprising the further step of making a multilayered structure wherein each layer of the multilayered structures comprises a nano-drilled piece with a plurality of nanoholes with carbonic nanostructures therewithin; and preferably wherein carbonic nanostructures are sandwiched between two adjacent nano-drilled pieces.

13. Method according to any one of claims 6, 11 or 12, comprising a step of chemically assembling a plurality of nano-drilled pieces (24) and / or a plurality of multilayered structures (124) by soaking the plurality of nano-drilled pieces and / or the plurality of multilayered structures within a bath with bonding agents, wherein preferably said bonding agents comprising thiols.

14. Apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, comprising an ion beam sputtering plant (36), wherein- said drilling chamber (13) also acts as sputtering chamber for carbonic nanostructures deposition, and wherein- the electronic control system (17) is configured to synchronize the particle accelerator (1 1 ) with the ion beam sputtering plant (36) ; and wherein, preferably, the working target is for both the particle accelerator and the ion beam sputtering plant.

15. Nanocomposite tank (100) for gas storage, such as hydrogen storage, comprising;-a plurality of multilayered nano-drilled structures (124) comprising at least one nano-drilled piece (24) of polymeric material with a plurality of through nanoholes (20); and-carbonic nanostructures (21 ) inserted into at least some of the through nanoholes drilled.

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