The aim is to present the main classes of materials involved in several major energy sectors and to show how the smart combination of materials allows improving the performances of components, devices and systems in the fields of energy production, conversion, storage and dissipation. Several illustrative sectors will be analyzed in terms of choice, structure and processing of the main materials involved, their associated specifications, recent and future trends, as well as economical, ecological and strategical implications.
The program will involve four different sections: 1 - A general introduction on Energy Conversion sequences and steps, the related mechanisms, the key devices, and the main materials involved. 2 - A general introduction to the upcoming energy transition and the challenges involved in the different technologies enabling the transition from fossil to renewable resources and the increasing role of electric energy for storage and distribution. 2 - A particular focus will be made on the field of electrochemical storage, the historical development in the field of batteries (previous, current, and future technologies), as well as the increasing contribution of polymer materials in this field. 3 - The specific roles of magnetic materials will be detailed. The link between chemical content and magnetic properties of materials will be explained, and the main categories of useful magnetic materials will be presented, together with the associated key physical concepts and parameters. The evolution trends over the last decades, following the frequency increase and the pervasion of power electronics, will be emphasized. 4 - The general functions of semiconductors in the field of energy will be displayed, and further detailed for three specific key areas: photovoltaic conversion, electroluminescent lighting (LED’s and Laser Diodes), and electric energy conversion, for the matching of voltage and frequency between the provider and the user. A focus will be made on the ongoing evolution trend towards wide bandgap semiconductors (mainly SiC and GaN) for electric energy conversion.