As can be seen from many of the topics preceding, the control of microstructure at the nano-size range, even for macroscopic materials, can lead to exciting new properties. Clearly at this meeting, you have heard and will continue to hear about a variety of interesting structures and devices. It should become obvious that the most significant payoff is achieved when one integrates these together. The challenge here is that, while work is being done at individual scales, no one is yet taking up the gauntlet to develop technologies that can bridge the size and function gap. Another challenge to the materials community is to find ways to accelerate the discovery of new materials more quickly and at the lowest cost possible.
Combinatorial synthesis is one such way.
This chart shows the basic concept for combinatorial synthesis. On this chart, one sees the potential for combinatorial synthesis in the development of thermoelectric materials. However, the promise of combinatorial synthesis is that one can find complex material systems rapidly with the potential to outperform years of traditional research. Finally, the last challenge is an overarching one in materials science. After one has developed a material, how does it cross the fence to the design community and get used.