The intense current interest in the development of solar energy as a
viable energy alternative comes as no surprise in view of the widespread
awareness of impending world-wide energy shortages. After all, the
magnitude of energy available from the sun is impressive, its
diffuseness and intermittent nature notwithstanding. The fact that, as a
source, it represents a constant and inex- haustible supply of energy is
alluring. The fact that most solar application schemes are nonpolluting
in nature is an attractive bonus. In spite of these impressive
attributes, research and development in the area of solar energy is in
its infancy, owing largely to the prior lack of any need to exploit such
diffuse sources. Indeed efforts in this area have traditionally been
within the province of solid-state physics and engineering. The problems
associated with efficient light harvesting and storage, however, are not
simply technological ones. Effec- tive solutions to these problems
appear to lie beyond the current forefront of the chemical sciences.
Consequently input fr9m scientists previously engaged in fundamental
chemistry has begun to emerge. Thus many of the contributions in this
volume represent input from research groups with a relatively short
history of involvement in solar energy. On the other hand, the
long-standing and perceptive commitment of Professor Melvin Calvin to
research involving solar energy represents the other extreme. This
volume covers a variety of approaches to the problem of efficiently
converting and storing solar energy.
