Advanced sustainable materials for energy applications

The symposium is the natural evolution of the three editions of the E-MRS symposia “Substitution of critical raw materials: synthesis, characterization and processing of new advanced materials in optoelectronic and magnetic devices (2016, 2018, 2021). This Symposium is devoted to academic and industrial partners working on the substitution and recycling of critical raw materials (CRMs) as well as the implementation of green synthesis and processes in electronic, magnetic and energy harvesting devices. The objective is to strengthen the synergies in this community and promote the development of new efficient and more sustainable CRM-free/lean devices.

Scope:

Raw materials are the basic, but fundamental, elements for a wealth of current technological applications. However, some of these materials (14 elements) have been defined since 2011 by the EU commission as “critical” due to the high risk of supply shortage expected in the next 10 years and for their importance to the European industry. Thus, their (total or partial) substitution and recycling are essential for Europe’s economy. This list has been updated for the fourth time up to 30 elements in 2020.

Many technologies with a high impact on the quality of life rely on critical raw materials (CRMs) as key elements, from lighting devices (LED, OLED, CFL: rare earths, like Ce, Y, Eu and Tb, In  as CRMs) to energy harvesting devices (transparent conductive layers, solar absorbers, caloric materials), permanent magnets (SmCo, NdFeB), catalytic converters, electrode catalysts in fuel cells (Pt group metals (PGM) and Rh-based catalysts) and rechargeable batteries (rare earths, graphite, Co, Li and Ni as CRMs). New research and development activities are required to improve the fundamental understanding of new material solutions containing reduced or no critical content while maintaining or enhancing the performance of the materials, components and products. The design of the alternative compounds, the control of growth process coupled with accurate characterization are mandatory for further development of new CRM-free/lean devices.

The symposium provides an interdisciplinary and intersectoral platform to discuss about CRM alternatives from the modelling, synthesis, characterization, processing and device integration viewpoints. Bringing together researchers from academia and industry, we aim at increasing the interaction among scientists, engineers, and students working on different areas of the CRM field that are too often treated separately.

Hot topics to be covered by the symposium:

Materials Science, Design, Synthesis, Growth, Characterization of Sustainable Advanced Materials with reduced or free from Critical Raw Materials and Recovery/Recycling of CRMs for:

• Transparent conductive layers;
• Rechargeable batteries;
• Phosphors for LED applications, Scintillators, Displays;
• OLEDs;
• Catalysis;
• Solar: photovoltaics, photocatalysis, hydrogen production;
• Smart windows;
• Caloric Materials for energy harvesting or efficient cooling;
• Exchange-coupled nanocomposite magnets with less or no rare earths;
• New RE-free/lean highly anisotropic magnetic materials and permanent magnets;
• New and energy efficient motors and generator technologies which do not depend on permanent magnets.

Publication:

Selected papers will be published in a special issue of "Sustainable Materials and Technologies".