Transformative Opportunities

Transformative Opportunity #1: Mastering Hierarchical Architectures and
Beyond-Equilibrium Matter
A new horizon for materials design is the opportunity to precisely control the placement of atoms in order to form desirable hierarchical structures, which, in turn, deliver novel properties. Of particular promise is the ability to predict and control non-equilibrium structures which are prevalent in nature in synthetic systems.
- A Next Generation Synthesis Center (GENESIS)
- Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems (AMEWS)
- Bioinspired Light-Escalated Chemistry (BioLEC)
- Breakthrough Electrolytes for Energy Storage (BEES)
- Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI)
- Center for 3D Ferroelectric Microelectronics (3DFeM)
- Center for Actinide Science & Technology (CAST)
- Center for Alkaline-Based Energy Solutions (CABES)
- Center for Bio-Inspired Energy Science (CBES)
- Center for Hierarchical Waste Form Materials (CHWM)
- Center for Hybrid Organic Inorganic Semiconductors for Energy (CHOISE)
- Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation (CLSF)
- Center for Materials for Water and Energy Systems (M-WET)
- Center for Mesoscale Transport Properties (m2mt)
- Center for Molecular Quantum Transduction (CMQT)
- Center for Plastics Innovation (CPI)
- Center for Synthetic Control Across Length-scales for Advancing Rechargeables (SCALAR)
- Center for the Advancement of Topological Semimetals (CATS)
- Center for the Science of Synthesis Across Scales (CSSAS)
- Center for Understanding and Control of Acid Gas-Induced Evolution of Materials for Energy (UNCAGE-ME)
- Quantum Sensing and Quantum Materials (QSQM)
- Fluid Interface Reactions, Structures and Transport Center (FIRST)
- Fundamental Understanding of Transport Under Reactor Extremes (FUTURE)
- Inorganometallic Catalyst Design Center (ICDC)
- Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics (iCOUP)
- Integrated Mesoscale Architectures For Sustainable Catalysis (IMASC)
- Interfacial Dynamics in Radioactive Environments and Materials (IDREAM)
- Molten Salts in Extreme Environments (MSEE)
- Multi-Scale Fluid-Solid Interactions in Architected and Natural Materials (MUSE)
- Quantum Materials for Energy Efficient Neuromorphic Computing (Q-MEEN-C)
Transformative Opportunity #2: Beyond Ideal Materials and Systems: Understanding the Critical Roles of Heterogeneity, Interfaces, and Disorder
Real materials contain heterogeneity, interfaces, and disorder, which proliferate at the mesoscale and often control the macroscopic behavior of materials. Advances in simulation, synthesis, and characterization hold the promise of moving beyond the familiar ideal homogeneous systems to master these structural complexities, turning "defects" into new design tools. Such advances can lead to a transformative impact in energy materials used for solar and nuclear power, hydraulic fracturing, power conversion, airframes, and batteries.
- A Next Generation Synthesis Center (GENESIS)
- Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems (AMEWS)
- Breakthrough Electrolytes for Energy Storage (BEES)
- Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI)
- Center for 3D Ferroelectric Microelectronics (3DFeM)
- Center for Alkaline-Based Energy Solutions (CABES)
- Center for Enhanced Nanofluidic Transport (CENT)
- Center for Hybrid Organic Inorganic Semiconductors for Energy (CHOISE)
- Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation (CLSF)
- Center for Materials for Water and Energy Systems (M-WET)
- Center for Mechanistic Control of Water-Hydrocarbon-Rock Interactions in Unconventional and Tight Oil Formations (CMC-UF)
- Center for Mesoscale Transport Properties (m2mt)
- Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis (CME)
- Center for Molecular Magnetic Quantum Materials (M2QM)
- Center for Novel Pathways to Quantum Coherence in Materials (NPQC)
- Center for Performance and Design of Nuclear Waste Forms and Containers (WastePD)
- Center for Plastics Innovation (CPI)
- Center for Synthetic Control Across Length-scales for Advancing Rechargeables (SCALAR)
- Center for the Advancement of Topological Semimetals (CATS)
- Center for the Science of Synthesis Across Scales (CSSAS)
- Center for Thermal Energy Transport under Irradiation (TETI)
- Center for Understanding and Control of Acid Gas-Induced Evolution of Materials for Energy (UNCAGE-ME)
- Quantum Sensing and Quantum Materials (QSQM)
- Fluid Interface Reactions, Structures and Transport Center (FIRST)
- Fundamental Understanding of Transport Under Reactor Extremes (FUTURE)
- Inorganometallic Catalyst Design Center (ICDC)
- Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics (iCOUP)
- Integrated Mesoscale Architectures For Sustainable Catalysis (IMASC)
- Interfacial Dynamics in Radioactive Environments and Materials (IDREAM)
- Molten Salts in Extreme Environments (MSEE)
- Multi-Scale Fluid-Solid Interactions in Architected and Natural Materials (MUSE)
- Programmable Quantum Materials (Pro-QM)
- Quantum Materials for Energy Efficient Neuromorphic Computing (Q-MEEN-C)
- Ultra Materials for a Resilient, Smart Electricity Grid (ULTRA)
Transformative Opportunity #3: Harnessing Coherence in Light and Matter
Coherence in quantum mechanical phenomena is a powerful force with direct far-reaching macroscopic implications. Recent advances have greatly enhanced our ability to observe and control coherence in both light and matter. Success in developing and exploiting these advances could revolutionize fields as diverse as information processing, sensor technology, and energy generation through the control of the outcome of chemical reactions or the instantaneous state of a material.
- Bioinspired Light-Escalated Chemistry (BioLEC)
- Center for Molecular Quantum Transduction (CMQT)
- Center for Novel Pathways to Quantum Coherence in Materials (NPQC)
- Center for the Advancement of Topological Semimetals (CATS)
- Quantum Sensing and Quantum Materials (QSQM)
- Institute for Quantum Matter (IQM)
- Photonics at Thermodynamic Limits (PTL)
- Programmable Quantum Materials (Pro-QM)
Transformative Opportunity #4: Revolutionary Advances in Models, Mathematics, Algorithms, Data, and Computing
The convergence of recent rapid advances in theoretical, mathematical, computational, and experimental capabilities promises to transform our ability to find, predict, and control new materials and chemical processes; understand complex matter across a range of length and time scales; and steer experiments toward deep scientific insights.
- A Next Generation Synthesis Center (GENESIS)
- Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI)
- Center for Actinide Science & Technology (CAST)
- Center for Alkaline-Based Energy Solutions (CABES)
- Center for Bio-Inspired Energy Science (CBES)
- Center for Enhanced Nanofluidic Transport (CENT)
- Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation (CLSF)
- Center for Materials for Water and Energy Systems (M-WET)
- Center for Mechanistic Control of Water-Hydrocarbon-Rock Interactions in Unconventional and Tight Oil Formations (CMC-UF)
- Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis (CME)
- Center for Molecular Magnetic Quantum Materials (M2QM)
- Center for Plastics Innovation (CPI)
- Center for the Science of Synthesis Across Scales (CSSAS)
- Center for Thermal Energy Transport under Irradiation (TETI)
- Center for Understanding and Control of Acid Gas-Induced Evolution of Materials for Energy (UNCAGE-ME)
- Quantum Sensing and Quantum Materials (QSQM)
- Fundamental Understanding of Transport Under Reactor Extremes (FUTURE)
- Inorganometallic Catalyst Design Center (ICDC)
- Institute for Quantum Matter (IQM)
- Integrated Mesoscale Architectures For Sustainable Catalysis (IMASC)
- Interfacial Dynamics in Radioactive Environments and Materials (IDREAM)
- Multi-Scale Fluid-Solid Interactions in Architected and Natural Materials (MUSE)
- Photonics at Thermodynamic Limits (PTL)
- Programmable Quantum Materials (Pro-QM)
- Quantum Materials for Energy Efficient Neuromorphic Computing (Q-MEEN-C)
- Ultra Materials for a Resilient, Smart Electricity Grid (ULTRA)
Transformative Opportunity #5: Exploiting Transformative Advances in Imaging Capabilities across Multiple Scales
The maxim "seeing is believing" captures the value of visual observation. Recent advances in imaging capabilities across multiple scales now allow us to directly see complex structures, chemistry, and dynamics that were previously invisible. Exploiting these new imaging tools in multimodal contexts, we can accelerate the discovery of new materials and functionalities, the understanding of combustion and other chemical processes, and the development of innovative approaches to materials synthesis.
- Advanced Materials for Energy-Water Systems (AMEWS)
- Catalysis Center for Energy Innovation (CCEI)
- Center for Alkaline-Based Energy Solutions (CABES)
- Center for Bio-Inspired Energy Science (CBES)
- Center for Enhanced Nanofluidic Transport (CENT)
- Center for Lignocellulose Structure and Formation (CLSF)
- Center for Materials for Water and Energy Systems (M-WET)
- Center for Mechanistic Control of Water-Hydrocarbon-Rock Interactions in Unconventional and Tight Oil Formations (CMC-UF)
- Center for Mesoscale Transport Properties (m2mt)
- Center for Plastics Innovation (CPI)
- Center for the Science of Synthesis Across Scales (CSSAS)
- Integrated Mesoscale Architectures For Sustainable Catalysis (IMASC)
- Interfacial Dynamics in Radioactive Environments and Materials (IDREAM)
- Molten Salts in Extreme Environments (MSEE)
- Multi-Scale Fluid-Solid Interactions in Architected and Natural Materials (MUSE)
- Photonics at Thermodynamic Limits (PTL)
- Programmable Quantum Materials (Pro-QM)
- Quantum Materials for Energy Efficient Neuromorphic Computing (Q-MEEN-C)