Materials for clean energy
Vol. 414, No. 6861 (15 November 2001).
|PDF(78K)|

Cover illustration Depleting supplies of fossil fuel and increasing future energy demands will require development of alternative 'clean' energy technologies, such as the solar panels shown in the background. (Images courtesy of M. Xeridat/J. Sullivan/Getty Images.)

Increasing awareness of environmental factors and limited energy resources have led to a profound evolution in the way we view the generation and supply of energy. Although fossil and nuclear sources will remain the most important energy provider for many more years, flexible technological solutions that involve alternative means of energy supply and storage need to be developed urgently.

The search for cleaner, cheaper, smaller and more efficient energy technologies has been driven by recent developments in materials science and engineering. The aim of this collection of reviews is therefore to focus on what materials-based solutions can offer and to show how the rational design and improvement of chemical and physical properties of these materials can lead to energy alternatives that can compete with existing technologies.

The most pronounced breakthroughs are currently taking place for technologies using renewable energy sources, such as fuel cells and solar cells. At the same time, the use of these technologies requires reliable and effective ways of storing energy, and exciting developments are occurring in the fields of hydrogen storage, rechargeable batteries and high-temperature superconductivity.

Exploring all the options under consideration would be impossible in such as a collection. But we hope that these articles provide a flavour of the many scientific and technological challenges and future opportunities offered by alternative energy sources, as well as illustrating the multidisciplinary nature of the endeavour. Much work remains to be done before they start competing with conventional sources, but if we want continued prosperity and energy security while enjoying a safer and cleaner environment, we must face up to our responsibilities and ensure that these technologies start affecting our everyday life sooner rather than later.

Vincent Dusastre Senior Editor

Alternative energy technologies M. S. DRESSELHAUS AND I. L. THOMAS |Summary|Full text|PDF(1146K)|	332
Photoelectrochemical cells MICHAEL GRÄTZEL |Summary|Full text|PDF(198K)|	338
Materials for fuel-cell technologies BRIAN C. H. STEELE AND ANGELIKA HEINZEL |Summary|Full text|PDF(179K)|	345
Hydrogen-storage materials for mobile applications LOUIS SCHLAPBACH AND ANDREAS ZÜTTEL |Summary|Full text|PDF(280K)|	353
Issues and challenges facing rechargeable lithium batteries J.-M. TARASCON AND M. ARMAND |Summary|Full text|PDF(354K)|	359
High-Tc superconducting materials for electric power applications DAVID LARBALESTIER, ALEX GUREVICH, D. MATTHEW FELDMANN & ANATOLY POLYANSKII |Summary|Full text|PDF(520K)|	368
Materials Research Society (MRS) and European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) first materials science forum on 'Materials science for future sustainable technologies' |Full text|PDF(117K)|	378