DOE Science Showcase - Mesoscale

“The immense diversity of materials in the macroscopic world—hard, soft, viscous, conducting, insulating, magnetic, liquid, and gaseous—is made up of only a hundred or so distinct kinds of atoms representing the elements of the periodic table.  The differences in the size, complexity, and operating principles of atoms and macroscopic materials are enormous . . . The enormous differences separating atoms and bulk materials appear at first sight to be irreconcilable.  They are connected, however, by a sequence of mesoscale architectures and phenomena that form, step by step, a staircase reaching from atoms to bulk materials that can be experimentally observed, theoretically understood, and ultimately physically controlled.  Mesoscale science entails the observation, understanding, and control of these intermediate-scale architectures and phenomena.  It will ultimately lead to next generation materials and technology that provide innovative solutions to pervasive societal problems including energy security, environmental sustainability, climate change, and enduring economic growth.,”  FROM QUANTA TO THE CONTINUUM: OPPORTUNITIES FOR MESOSCALE SCIENCE, A Report from the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee.   

See additional resources and related links about mesoscale science below.

"Materials at the Mesoscale"
Image Credit: Los Alamos National Laboratory