Energy materials

The relationship between structure and properties is one of the most important and pervasive paradigms in physical sciences. It provides a means for understanding complex behaviour in materials at an atomistic level, and establishes a framework for the design of materials with specifically targeted properties.

The need for secure, sustainable and affordable sources of energy is one of the greatest scientific challenges we currently face. The news is full of looming energy crises; the fossil fuels on which modern society has been built are becoming more difficult and more expensive to extract; nuclear power has failed to live up to the ‘free energy’ expectations of the 1950s; renewables such as wind power appear likely to remain relatively minor sources of energy for the foreseeable future.

The energy landscape evolves constantly as natural energy reserves are consumed and discovered and as technological advances provide access to new alternative energy sources. Optimizing energy storage, conversion, distribution and utilisation within this energy ecosystem is critical, not only to our energy security, but to economic stability and environmental stewardship.

This special issue demonstrates the central importance crystallographic tools play in the development of materials and technologies related to energy, by probing the structure-function relationship to reveal the fundamental basis for device operation and failure. By exploring the structure and chemistry of energy materials including in situ during operation or under conditions that lead to failure, we can eliminate performance limitations and thereby improve function in next generation materials and devices.

Acta Crystallographica Section B is the ideal home for this collection of papers on energy materials, as Acta Cryst. B has a long tradition of publishing citation classics in the field of materials science, including seminal papers in bond valence analysis and the structural chemistry of perovskites, framework materials and ionic conductors. Since the change in aims and scope of the journal indicated by the change in subtitle to structural science, crystal engineering and materials, Acta B actively encourages submissions from new authors in these rapidly-developing fields.

This article is a short extract reprinted from an editorial published in the journal Acta Crystallographica Section B: Structural Science, Crystal Engineering and Materials