Scientific Scope

Energy is at the heart of nowadays challenges in view of the necessity to develop a sustainable society. The provision of sustainable energy requires not only the use of renewable sources (solar energy, wind energy, geothermal energy, bioenergy, etc.) but also technologies improving energy efficiency. Many concepts are concerned with such an issue: separating (e.g. gas mixture, biosources…), extracting (gas hydrate, asphaltens, oils…), vectoring (storing gas such as hydrogen, methane…), producing (oxygen/proton conduction, fuel cells…), converting (photovoltaic, thermoelectricity…) and storing (batteries, supercapacitors…). The understanding of physical and chemical processes met in these various concepts constitutes a key point to optimize current technologies and to create future energy devices. Neutron scattering addresses several energy questions. Neutron is sensitive to light elements, like hydrogen and lithium. Most of the matter (especially metals) is transparent to neutron beam, providing opportunities for probing energy devices in situ and in operando.

The SENS-2016 conference aims at highlighting topical scientific activities in the investigation of energy relevant systems using neutron scattering and to generate new applications. What could neutron bring to sustainable energy? What is the place of neutron scattering in the context of complementary techniques? What are the nowadays and future issues in the area of energy? The conference will address such questions and will give the opportunity for reinforcing the bridges existing between the neutron experts and the energy communities. Neutron users will benefit from an ideal showcase for their research and newcomers will get a good overview over the scientific potential via contact with experts in the neutron field.

The main topics discussed will be:

• Fuel cell and electrolysers
• Gas storage
• Bioenergy
• Solar energy
• Batteries
• Energy-related materials (magneto-caloric, thermoelectric, etc…)