Emergent Materials for Security, Energy and the Environment

The term “advanced materials” may be applied to a variety of high-performance materials designed to meet a wide array of functional objectives. The designation is typically associated with materials designed for robust structural or security applications, including products created for military or aerospace uses. While this remains a primary focus, there has also been a growing trend to address energy conservation and environmental remediation objectives in the development of advanced materials. These additional aims allows for a broader and more holistic view of advanced materials—highlighting promising intersections and synergies between the different objectives of security, energy and the environment. This article explains how five themes:performance, response, energy, optimization and remediation may be used to categorize advanced materials that address these objectives and their relationships. It presents numerous examples of advanced materials in the field and under development.