Challenges of Nano-Materials Science :
towards the Solution of Environment and Energy Problems

Today's environmental problems stem from a relatively new situation: human energy consumption has reached a non-negligible level relative to the earth's total capacity. To maintain prosperity we need to develop technologies to provide various forms of energy (electrical, thermal, etc) without degrading the natural environment.
In 2009 NIMS established the "Innovative Center of Nanomaterials Science for Environment and Energy " to carry out a national project: “Development of environmental technologies utilizing nanotechnology”, sponsored by MEXT. Here, we work on engineering problems directly applicable to real-world problems. At the same time we explore theoretical and computational approaches to materials science problems that are relevant in energy providing processes starting from solar energy conversion.

To solve today’s environmental and energy problems, there is an urgent need for breakthroughs in energy conversion systems including photovoltaic solar cells, photo-catalysts, rechargeable batteries, and fuel cells which are associated with energy flows starting from sunlight. Instead of conventional trial-and-error searches for materials and evaluation of black-box system characteristics, we make the most use of advanced computational and characterization technologies to drive the collaboration and fusion of theory and experiments for building an understanding and establishing control technology for surface and interface phenomena, which are common issues in energy conversion technologies. In this way, technological seeds are being created for future breakthroughs. By bringing together the high research potential in the nanotechnology and materials science fields, we will build a research center for a dream team that links research institutions and industries both in Japan and abroad to meet the challenge of solving environmental and energy problems.