This course is a materials science approach to the challenge of creating energy-efficient devices and systems. It introduces first the concept of materials energy content (production, processing, use and recycling), with students developing case studies in this area. It then describes how advanced materials make possible efficient energy capture (solar cells, nuclear materials, hard materials for oil/gas recovery, composites for wind energy, …), energy conversion (fuel cells, light emitting diodes, thermoelectrics, engines and turbines, …) and energy storage (hydrogen storage, phase-change materials,…). Also, materials enabling energy-efficient transportation and housing is discussed.
Students in the first class (Spring 2008) created five life-cycle analysis case studies comparing various materials (e.g., roofing materials) and behaviors (e.g., hand-drying) in terms of energy consumption and CO2 production.
Furthermore, they wrote review reports on topics related to materials and energy, and improved wiki entries regarding materials for energy.
Articles on Materials and Energy
Corrosion problems and prevention
Thermoelectric devices and materials
Wind turbine design-blade materials
