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AbstractEfforts to reach net zero targets by the second half of the century will have profound materials supply implications. The anticipated scale and speed of the energy transition in both transportation and energy storage raises the question of whether we risk running out of the essential critical materials needed to enable this transition. Early projections suggest that disruptions are likely to occur in the short term for select critical materials, but at the same time these shortages provide a powerful incentive for the market to respond in a variety of ways before supply-level stress becomes dire. In April 2023, the MRSFocus on Sustainability subcommitteesponsored a panel discussion on the role of innovation in materials science and engineering in supporting supply chains for clean energy technologies. Drawing on examples from the panel discussion, this perspective examines the myth of materials scarcity, explains the compelling need for innovation in materials in helping supply chains dynamically adapt over time, and illustrates how the Materials Research Society is facilitating engagement with industry to support materials innovation, now and in the future. Graphical Abstract HighlightsIn this commentary, we examine the myth of materials scarcity, explain the compelling need for innovation in materials in helping supply chains dynamically adapt over time, and show how the materials research community can effectively engage with industry, policymakers, and funding agencies to drive the needed innovation in critical areas. DiscussionDemand for certain materials used in clean energy technologies is forecasted to increase by multiples of current production over the next decades. This has drawn attention to supply chain risks and has created a myth that we will “run out” out of certain materials during the energy transition. The reality is that markets have multiple mechanisms to adapt over the long-term, and near-term shortages or expectations of shortages provide a powerful incentive for action. In this commentary, we highlight different ways materials innovation can help solve these issues in the near term and long term, and how the materials research community can effectively engage with industry and policymakers. 

Abstract The goal of decarbonizing global energy systems by 2050 is a challenge of unprecedented scope and ambition. Hydrogen has been identified as an important enabler for this effort, but its precise role in the energy transition and future energy system remains unclear. The MRSFocus on Sustainability subcommitteesponsored a panel discussion on the roles of and materials needs associated with hydrogen in the energy transition. This commentary summarizes key elements from the panel discussion and addresses how the materials research community can engage more deeply with the H₂energy transition. The topics include inventing new materials with improved properties for advanced technologies, but also supporting the growth of a robust manufacturing base, improving materials corrosion mitigation, helping to de-risk supply chains, and training qualified workers across the industrial ecosystem to reinforce a culture of safety and support the evolution of commercial processes and business models. Graphical abstract