1: Advance the Basic Sciences for Energy Independence

Provide the scientific knowledge and tools to achieve energy independence, securing U.S. leadership and essential breakthroughs in basic energy sciences.

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Executive Summary: Much of our progress to reduce the energy intensity of our economy has come from advances in chemistry and materials science. We will build on this progress as we begin to design and assemble structures at the molecular level, learn to precisely predict and control chemical reactivity, and understand the behavior of complex systems. We will deliver new science that improves the reliability of our electric grid, makes our transportation system cleaner and more efficient, and enables new generation technologies, from fuel cells to hydrogen power. Detailed Commentary: The growth of our economy over the past halfcentury has derived in substantial part from steady improvements in our energy technologies. In each subsequent decade, we have produced more goods and services with a given amount of energy, and we have produced that energy more efficiently and with less environmental impact. Much of this progress has come from advances in the materials and chemical sciences such as new magnetic materials; high strength, lightweight alloys and composites; novel electronic materials; and new catalysts, with a host of energy technology applications. We are now in the early stages of two remarkable explorations—observing and manipulating matter at the molecular scale and understanding the behavior of large assemblies of interacting components. Scientific discoveries in these two frontiers alone will accelerate our progress toward more efficient, affordable, and cleaner energy technologies. They pose some of the most fascinating and far-reaching scientific challenges of our time: • What new, useful properties do materials display as we move from the classical or macroscopic world to objects composed of a few to a few thousands of atoms or molecules? • What range of optical, mechanical, catalytic, electrical, tribological, and other properties can be achieved by designing devices and materials at the molecular scale? • How can we efficiently assemble molecular-scale structures? How do living organisms construct complex assemblies, and can we apply these approaches to engineer useful devices and materials? • How can we control chemical reactivity—the making and breaking of chemical bonds—to produce energy and desired materials while eliminating unwanted byproducts? Our Timeline and Indicators of Success: Our commitment to the future, and to the realization of Goal 1: Advance the Basic Sciences for Energy Independence, is not only reflected in our strategies, but also in our Key Indicators of Success, below, and our Strategic Timeline for Basic Energy Sciences (BES), at the end of this chapter. Our BES Strategic Timeline charts a collection of important, illustrative milestones, representing planned progress within each strategy. These milestones, while subject to the rapid pace of change and uncertainties that belie all science programs, reflect our latest perspectives on the future— what we hope to accomplish and when we hope to accomplish it— over the next 20 years and beyond. Following the science milestones, toward the bottom of the timeline, we have identified the required major new facilities. These facilities, described in greater detail in the DOE Office of Science companion report, Facilities for the Future of Science: A Twenty-Year Outlook, reflect time-sequencing that is based on the general priority of the facility, as well as critical-path relationships to research and corresponding science milestones. Additionally, the Office of Science has identified Key Indicators of Success, designed to gauge our overall progress toward achieving Goal 1. These select indicators, identified below, are representative long-term measures against which progress can be evaluated over time. The specific features and parameters of these indicators, as well as definitions of success, can be found on the web at www.science.doe.gov/ measures. Key Indicators of Success: • Progress in designing, modeling, fabricating, characterizing, analyzing, assembling, and using a variety of new materials and structures, including metals, alloys, ceramics, polymers, biomaterials, and more— particularly at the nanoscale— for energy-related applications. • Progress in understanding, modeling, and controlling chemical reactivity and energy transfer processes in the gas phase, in solutions, at interfaces, and on surfaces for energy-related applications, employing lessons from inorganic, organic, selfassembling, and biological systems. • Progress in developing new concepts and improving existing methods for solar energy conversion and other major energy research needs identified in the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee workshop report, Basic Research Needs to Assure a Secure Energy Future. • Progress in conceiving, designing, fabricating, and using new instruments to characterize and ultimately control materials.

Objective(s):

1.1: Core Disciplines

1.2: Nanoscale Science

1.3: Energy-Relevant Systems

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