京都大学 白眉センター

Sooner or later, there will be a fossil fuels shortage that will call for a radical change in our daily lives. Scientists are now searching new ways to produce, store and use energy in more efficient, cheap and viable ways. One of the biggest challenges will be to power future transportation means such as motor vehicles and planes. In the first part of my talk, I will present a short review with a focus on batteries and fuel cells. How do they work? (Everybody has to charge their phone once in a while!!) What are their respective strengths and weaknesses? What are the challenges? The second part will focus on my ongoing research towards the discovery of novel materials using exotic pathways. New compounds are essential towards the discovery of novel properties towards the improvement of energy transportation and storage.