Materials science has had a key role in lowering CO₂ emissions from the electricity sector through the development of technologies for renewable energy generation and high-performance energy storage. However, outside of the energy sector, there remain considerable greenhouse gas emissions linked to materials production, particularly due to growth in the built environment infrastructure, transportation and chemicals manufacture. This Review focuses on the challenge of reducing the emissions impact of materials production. We assess the potential for decarbonization in the cement, metals (including steel and aluminium) and chemicals manufacturing industries, including the potential to reduce emissions from the inputs to the production and the transformation processes, as well as through the design of desired outputs. We also address underexplored research areas and outline opportunities for the materials community to reduce emissions by leveraging innovations along length scales from atoms to materials markets.

材料科学在降低 CO ₂方面发挥了关键作用通过开发可再生能源发电和高性能储能技术，减少电力部门的排放。然而，在能源部门之外，与材料生产相关的温室气体排放量仍然相当可观，特别是由于建筑环境基础设施、运输和化学品制造的增长。本次审查重点关注减少材料生产对排放影响的挑战。我们评估水泥、金属（包括钢铁和铝）和化学品制造行业的脱碳潜力，包括减少从生产投入和转化过程中的排放，以及通过设计预期产出的潜力。