Computation, Experiment, and Data Combine to Accelerate the Rate of Developing New, Energy Efficient Materials

By Dr. Russell Chianelli, The University of Texas at El Paso, Materials Research and Technology Institute

In the December issue of MRS Bulletin “Energy Quarterly,” an article by Prachi Patel, “Materials Genome Initiative and Energy,” describes a new approach designed to accelerate the discovery of new energy efficient materials. The Materials Genome Initiative (MGI), a federal program instituted in 2011, is based on a concept called Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), which combines computational tools, experimental tools, and digital data to accelerate the discovery and design of new energy efficient materials. In this respect, it is similar to the combinatorial chemistry techniques used in the pharmaceuticals industry to accelerate the pace of drug discovery.

Ford Motor Company used a similar process to accelerate the development of materials for more energy efficient automobile engines. This system, virtual aluminum casting, saved Ford a large portion of development costs (25%) for new engine castings. The MGI encourages the development of ICME systems in other areas of materials for energy. This approach is generally applicable and is becoming crucial in the field of research and development for materials for energy.

Comments

[atomic watches]

Solar energy appears to be one of the most powerful and reliable sources of renewable energy. Drawbacks are potential limits of access to required manufacturing materials.

[Juuso Hård]

It is look really interesting.In Finland they used to have some solar panel and some solar power plant to create an energy,well this is going to be an easy good luck to this one.

[Cesped artificial precios]

I would like to see it too.

[solar panel grants]

Nice to see the whole article if we can.