About WISE
WISE enables basic and needs-driven materials science research at the international forefront, strengthens sustainable technologies and trains future leaders in society, industry and academia in Sweden.
The Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability is the largest-ever investment in materials science in Sweden and encompasses major efforts at seven of Sweden’s leading universities over the course of (at least) 10 years. The aim is to create the conditions for a sustainable society by researching the next generation of ecofriendly materials and manufacturing processes. This will also facilitate better technology for energy systems of the future, and to combat climate change, pollution, and toxic emissions. Specifically, efforts will be devoted to identify new or significantly improve materials, which provide a distinct advantage in physical, chemical, biological, or functional performance when compared to existing materials and technologies. This relates to materials that demand fewer resources, are less environmentally hazardous, and enable sound and efficient recycling processes. WISE will also explore materials that, when used in energy technology, generate less negative climate impact under operation, while offering high performance and efficiency when in action at large scales.
The fundamental and demand-driven materials science in WISE, is conducted in four thematic areas which are conversion, storage and distribution of clean energy; circular materials replacing rare, energy-intensive and hazardous materials; mitigation, purification and protection of the atmosphere, soil and water and discovery of materials for new sustainable technologies and applications. These thematic areas are divided into five different materials research areas.
Research areas
Design and modelling
Theoretical methods that allow the design and modeling of new materials have matured and are used in all fields of materials science. This involves electronic structure methods based on density functional theory, molecular dynamics simulations, and Monte Carlo techniques. Lately, this field also involves data-filtering methods of huge databases, where hundreds of thousands of compounds listed – for instance in the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database (ICSD) and Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) – and screening tools are designed to extract materials with specific properties. High throughput electronic structure calculations have been a key ingredient in this development. Furthermore, machine learning methods are increasingly being used in theory-guided materials science. Although the methods used in theoretical materials research are to some extent sufficiently accurate and efficient in many areas, there is still need for major improvements in this field. As an example, it can be noted that theoretical calculations of X-ray and electron spectroscopy pose a significant problem for existing methods.
Structures
This involves architectures of matter ranging from Ångström dimensions, via nanostructures and mesoscopic sizes, to macroscopic constructions and include materials-defined functions at different dimensional levels. Materials structures represent the crucial instrument to introduce specific properties and performance parameters that together form desired advanced functions for a resulting material targeting specific applications. Structures are formed, e.g., via synthesis, interface engineering, self-organization, etching, and additive manufacturing. Electrode and membrane materials for fuel cells are archetypical examples of complex structures, which enable transport of reactants and components, in gas and liquid phases, along with charge transport.
Synthesis and processing
In a wide perspective, synthesis can involve many levels of sophistication from the extraction and recovery of specific elements or materials components to the designed synthesis of specific molecular motifs and materials with predicted properties, also involving composites, hybrid materials, and materials with specific topology or multi-scale ordered structures, as well as low-dimensional materials and atomic scale control. Synthesis is performed in the vapor, liquid or solid states. For materials to ultimately become useful in large-scale applications, aspects of sustainable and efficient post-synthesis processing and upscaling are important, e.g., by heat treatments to drive secondary phase transformations.
Properties
Materials are designed and produced for a special purpose and thus target specific properties. For instance, light-harvesting materials in solar cells must provide efficient conversion of the energy of light to electric energy, with subsequent fast conduction of the energy-rich charge carriers produced, while minimizing recombination losses for ultimate high yield for usage or storage. Materials properties depend on the composition, as well as the structure and topology at different length scales. Therefore, detailed characterization of properties in relation to the structure and physical mechanisms is essential for enabling targeted applications.
Performance
Performance investigations represent the benchmark of a material or a device with respect to the requirements of an intended application. Examples involve investigations of high-frequency capabilities, energy consumption, and lifetime of electro-optical devices; the energy density, rate of loading/unloading and cyclability of energy storage materials; hardness, toughness, and temperature tolerance of materials for industrial tools; and the weight, load, and durability of structural materials. Materials are also used in catalytic applications, e.g., in the synthesis of organic compounds and fuels based on hydrogen, and in various sustainable applications. These performance parameters must also be coupled to the environmental impact of the materials that are being used.
Participating universities
WISE is primarily based on seven of Sweden's leading research universities, which together form a complete and complementary knowledge base to successfully carry out the core business of research and education. The participating universities are: Chalmers University of Technology, KTH, Linköping University, Lund University, Luleå University of Technology, Stockholm University and Uppsala University.
Participating research groups
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