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The path towards sustainable energy

Nature Materials volume 16, pages 16–22 (2017)Cite this article

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Abstract

Civilization continues to be transformed by our ability to harness energy beyond human and animal power. A series of industrial and agricultural revolutions have allowed an increasing fraction of the world population to heat and light their homes, fertilize and irrigate their crops, connect to one another and travel around the world. All of this progress is fuelled by our ability to find, extract and use energy with ever increasing dexterity. Research in materials science is contributing to progress towards a sustainable future based on clean energy generation, transmission and distribution, the storage of electrical and chemical energy, energy efficiency, and better energy management systems.

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Figure 1: Renewable energy future.
Figure 2: Photovoltaic technologies.
Figure 3: Materials for batteries.
Figure 4: Materials for catalysis.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, California, USA

    Steven Chu & Nian Liu

  2. Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, California, USA

    Steven Chu

  3. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, 94305, California, USA

    Yi Cui & Nian Liu

  4. Stanford Institute for Materials and Energy Sciences, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, 94025, California, USA

    Yi Cui

Authors
  1. Steven Chu
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Correspondence to Steven Chu.

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Chu, S., Cui, Y. & Liu, N. The path towards sustainable energy. Nature Mater 16, 16–22 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat4834

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