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Nanoscience
and DOE’s Missions
Nanoscale science
and technology is at the frontier of materials
science, chemistry, biology, computational science,
and engineering. According to Dr. Jack Marburger,
President Bush’s science advisor, it represents
the beginning of a revolution in science, “one
in which the notion that everything is made
of atoms finally becomes operational.”
Research at the nanoscale
will benefit all of the DOE missions –
advancing the energy, economic and national
security of the United States, promoting scientific
and technological innovation and ensuring environmental
cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex.
Indeed, many of the missions can be accomplished
only by achieving the level of understanding
and control that nanoscale science will make
possible.
For example, nanoscale synthesis and assembly
methods will result in:
- significant improvements in solar
energy conversion;
- more energy-efficient lighting;
- stronger, lighter materials to improve
efficiency in transportation;
- greatly improved chemical and biological
sensing;
- low-energy catalytic pathways for fuel
and chemical production and to break down toxic substances
for environmental restoration;
- better sensors and controls to increase
efficiency in manufacturing; and
- many
advanced systems for stockpile stewardship.
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