Next generation materials for energy chemistry: concluding remarks.

Materials chemistry and electrochemistry have long been very active elds of research accelerated by chance discoveries, societal needs, and the ever expanding constituency of researchers around the globe. Advances in synthesis, characterisation techniques, and interdisciplinary research have caused an almost exponential growth in research where applications have been driving the focus – especially in energy related research. This is important because despite the vast increase in accessible fossil fuel reserves, expanded partly by fracking for oil and gas, we must surely stop using fossil fuels as soon as possible. Even if we burn a fraction of these reserves, then climate change leading to a rise in average global temperatures greater than 2 C will be unstoppable, threatening not just society, but the entire global ecosystem on planet Earth. Life as we know it will surely decline. The key realisation is intimidating. Two thirds of our current fossil fuel reserves are effectively unusable if we want to preserve our climate, no matter how low the oil price. So how can the next generation of materials help solve these problems? Well, some of the most important needs in materials for energy relate not only to conversion and new energy systems, but also to the ability to store energy at high densities. Also, the need for scalable systems that are durable cannot be over emphasised and these stringent requirements will surely allow scientists to creatively rise to the challenge. At Faraday Discussion 176, I observed such a transformation, where discussions not only about scientic principles but real world applications and practical implementation were combined. Faraday Discussions have a great tradition, but Faraday Discussion 176marked a special development as the rst time that a Faraday Discussion has been held in Asia; the venue was the University of Xiamen in China. Also, it was tting that the topic, next generation energy materials, was discussed in a country that has recently become the largest producer and consumer of energy in the world, and is also rolling out the largest renewable energy program. However, many serious issues must be tackled beyond the science, not only economic, political, social and environmental. The role of science today has not changed. Beyond