Opportunities for new catalysis research related to energy

COLL 594

Raul Miranda, Raul.Miranda@science.doe.gov, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences, and Biosciences Division , Office of Basic Energy Sciences, U.S. Department of Energy, SC-22.1/Germantown Building, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C, DC 20585-1290
An era of increased awareness of our limited fossil energy future and our delicate global equilibrium (both environmental and political) is driving a strong public demand for alternatives to traditional fuels and for more efficient ways to utilize our energy sources. Research on the basic science of catalysis has traditionally had direct impact on energy technologies, but the opportunities for dramatically increasing such impact on the future of our civilization have seldom been as pronounced as they are now. This talk outlines the latest thoughts (policies and facts) guiding public funding of energy-related catalysis research. It also ponders on future trends in direct and indirect chemical and thermal energy conversion, including the current advances being pursued by our distinguished honoree, Prof. Gabor Somorjai.