Innovative materials enable energy generation, storage and conservation, but in some cases pose new challenges
On behalf of the German Environment Agency (UBA) , the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM) investigated which innovative, advanced materials (AdMa) are already supporting the energy transition today and which could be used in the future. Advanced materials are defined as materials that have been deliberately and specifically designed for certain structures or material properties for their area of application. A literature review was conducted to identify materials that are currently used or being tested for energy generation, storage and conservation. Ten materials that are considered particularly relevant for various reasons are presented in more detail below: Perovskite, Quantum Dots, Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide (CIGS), Aerogels, Iridium Oxide, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), Hard Carbon, MXene, Graphene and related 2D materials (GR2M) and Carbon Nanotubes (CNT). In addition to the advantages, they offer for the energy transition, the challenges they may pose in terms of resource management or the protection of people and the environment are also highlighted.
Advantages vs. (un-)known challenges
It is clear that advanced materials offer enormous potential for achieving the energy transition. Some are already in use, others are still being researched, and laboratory-scale tests are already showing that combining certain novel materials can achieve optimal thermal insulation, maximum efficiency, enormous conductivity and synergy effects. At the same time, however, little information is available about the risks these materials pose to human health and the environment. In some cases, their application requires the use of known pollutants, or their production is extremely raw material- and energy-intensive. Challenges for the circular economy are already foreseeable: In some cases the dimensions of the AdMa are similar to those of pathogenic fibres, and such fibres can also be produced during the mechanical comminution of CNT-containing materials. When CNT-containing composites are ground for recycling, conductive dust is produced that clogs the machines. If harmful raw materials such as lead in perovskites are encapsulated for safe use, they are more difficult to recover.
Report provides initial overview
In-depth investigations are needed to ensure that advanced materials can advance the energy transition while guaranteeing safety and sustainability. Based on a literature review, the report provides an initial overview of this topic.
The report "Advanced materials for the energy transition: Study to survey the state of knowledge and technology on the application of advanced materials in the various technologies for the production and storage of renewable energies" (under "Further informations") by Xenia Knigge and Jörg Radnik of Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung was published as UBA TEXTE 83/2025.