Material Science Driven Water Technology Innovation
The white paper explores multiple Energy-Water Resilience (EWR) topics, including water for energy, energy for water, and their intersections. It proposes low-cost, scalable water-based material processes to advance water technologies through materials innovation. The existing challenge is that energy and water systems are deeply interconnected, imposing mutual constraints. Breakthroughs in materials science offer opportunities to enhance EWR systems. This white paper proposes near-term opportunities with key areas of focus, including (1) water for energy: advanced heat-exchange materials, materials for mitigating corrosion and fouling of infrastructure and for subsurface energy production; (2) Energy for water: materials for wastewater pretreatment and improving membrane efficiency; and (3) Intersection: material innovations in the mining and processing of critical minerals. The paper also discusses system-level impacts, partnership opportunities, and success measures, including quantitative and qualitative metrics. The goal is to create synergies that enhance efficiency, sustainability and resiliency within EWR systems.
Citation Formats
TY - DATA
AB - The white paper explores multiple Energy-Water Resilience (EWR) topics, including water for energy, energy for water, and their intersections. It proposes low-cost, scalable water-based material processes to advance water technologies through materials innovation. The existing challenge is that energy and water systems are deeply interconnected, imposing mutual constraints. Breakthroughs in materials science offer opportunities to enhance EWR systems. This white paper proposes near-term opportunities with key areas of focus, including (1) water for energy: advanced heat-exchange materials, materials for mitigating corrosion and fouling of infrastructure and for subsurface energy production; (2) Energy for water: materials for wastewater pretreatment and improving membrane efficiency; and (3) Intersection: material innovations in the mining and processing of critical minerals. The paper also discusses system-level impacts, partnership opportunities, and success measures, including quantitative and qualitative metrics. The goal is to create synergies that enhance efficiency, sustainability and resiliency within EWR systems.
AU - Chang, Chun
A2 - Zheng, Haimei
A3 - Ajami, Newsha
DB - Energy-Water Resilience
DP - Open EI | National Laboratory of the Rockies
DO -
KW - Material science
KW - Low-cost and scalable processes
KW - Energy production
KW - Water treatment
KW - Mining and processing
KW - water for energy
KW - energy for water
KW - heat-exchange materials
KW - corrosion
KW - fouling
KW - wastewater
KW - membrane efficiency
KW - critical minerals
LA - English
DA - 2026/01/13
PY - 2026
PB - LBNL
T1 - Material Science Driven Water Technology Innovation
UR - https://ewr.openei.org/submissions/111
ER -
Chang, Chun, et al. Material Science Driven Water Technology Innovation. LBNL, 13 January, 2026, Energy-Water Resilience. https://ewr.openei.org/submissions/111.
Chang, C., Zheng, H., & Ajami, N. (2026). Material Science Driven Water Technology Innovation. [Data set]. Energy-Water Resilience. LBNL. https://ewr.openei.org/submissions/111
Chang, Chun, Haimei Zheng, and Newsha Ajami. Material Science Driven Water Technology Innovation. LBNL, January, 13, 2026. Distributed by Energy-Water Resilience. https://ewr.openei.org/submissions/111
@misc{EWR_Dataset_111,
title = {Material Science Driven Water Technology Innovation},
author = {Chang, Chun and Zheng, Haimei and Ajami, Newsha},
abstractNote = {The white paper explores multiple Energy-Water Resilience (EWR) topics, including water for energy, energy for water, and their intersections. It proposes low-cost, scalable water-based material processes to advance water technologies through materials innovation. The existing challenge is that energy and water systems are deeply interconnected, imposing mutual constraints. Breakthroughs in materials science offer opportunities to enhance EWR systems. This white paper proposes near-term opportunities with key areas of focus, including (1) water for energy: advanced heat-exchange materials, materials for mitigating corrosion and fouling of infrastructure and for subsurface energy production; (2) Energy for water: materials for wastewater pretreatment and improving membrane efficiency; and (3) Intersection: material innovations in the mining and processing of critical minerals. The paper also discusses system-level impacts, partnership opportunities, and success measures, including quantitative and qualitative metrics. The goal is to create synergies that enhance efficiency, sustainability and resiliency within EWR systems.},
url = {https://ewr.openei.org/submissions/111},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {Energy-Water Resilience, LBNL, https://ewr.openei.org/submissions/111},
note = {Accessed: 2026-06-17}
}
Details
Data from Jan 13, 2026
Last updated Jan 15, 2026
Submitted Jan 14, 2026
Contact
Chun Chang
Authors
Keywords
Material science, Low-cost and scalable processes, Energy production, Water treatment, Mining and processing, water for energy, energy for water, heat-exchange materials, corrosion, fouling, wastewater, membrane efficiency, critical mineralsDOE Project Details
Project Name White Papers on Ideas to Advance Energy-Water Resilience
Project Lead
Project Number WP-111