Announcements

We are pleased to announce that the 2024 Tu Youyou Award has been conferred upon Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller, in recognition of their significant contributions to natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

Richard DiMarchi Indiana University, USA	Prof. Richard DiMarchi is a Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Gill Chair in Biomolecular Sciences at Indiana University, USA. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Dr. DiMarchi is a former Group Vice President at Eli Lilly and later at Novo Nordisk. He is recognized for his contributions to the discovery and development of rDNA-derived Humulin®, Humalog®, rGlucagon®, and Forteo®. His academic research has broadened the understanding of glucagon and incretin physiology and pioneered the discovery of single-molecule multi-mechanism agonists for the treatment of diabetes and obesity. The central element to success has been the chemical vision and technology to install within single molecules simultaneous agonism at related G-protein coupled receptors, coupled to the counter-intuitive discovery that glucagon and GIP agonism could synergize the therapeutic efficacy of GLP-1. These peptides and their conceptual approach have transformed the management of excessive body weight to a condition comparable to how hypertension, adult-onset diabetes, and excess cholesterol are medicinally managed.
“Professor DiMarchi was recognized by the 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members as being an exceptional leader in the medicinal chemistry of peptides and proteins of natural origin, and as a pioneer in the field of chemical biotechnology. His very important discoveries have led to breakthroughs in new drugs related to the therapy of diabetes and obesity. He has been named as an inventor on a very large number of patents, and he has had initially a highly successful scientific and administrative career in industry, which was followed by over two decades in academia as a distinguished professor.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee
Rolf Müller Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Infections Research (HZI), Germany; Saarland University, Germany	Prof. Rolf Müller is the Founding and Managing Director of the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and Professor of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at Saarland University, Germany. Having received his training from the University of Bonn, he held research positions at the University of Washington, USA, and Braunschweig University of Technology, Germany, prior to his appointment as professor to Saarland University. His laboratory has dedicated itself to the exploration of bacterial natural-product biosynthetic pathways for more than 20 years and has extensive experience in working with myxobacteria and other microbial producer strains. Starting from the isolation and characterization of new microorganisms, the scope of work includes microbiology-, biotechnology-, bioinformatics-, and chemistry-based approaches to exploit these isolates as sources of new drugs with a special focus on novel anti-infectives. Müller and his team apply a variety of state-of-the-art analytical methods and biological assays to perform biological and chemical characterizations of the identified compounds. Prof. Müller has received several awards, including the prestigious Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize, the PHOENIX Pharmacy Research Award, the DECHEMA Prize, and the Inhoffen Medal, as well as being an elected member of acatech, Leopoldina, and the German Academy of Sciences and Literature.
“The 2024 Tu Youyou Award Committee members were highly impressed by the truly outstanding past and ongoing contributions of Professor Müller in both microbial natural products isolation chemistry and in biosynthesis, as well as in the development of lead compounds for their potential in treating human diseases, through his global connections with various major funding agencies. He is also a dedicated teacher who has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, and he has lectured on his research in countries all over the world.” —Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Chair of the Award Committee

The achievements of Richard DiMarchi and Rolf Müller highlight the transformative impact of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry. We congratulate them and invite the global academic community and public to join us in celebrating their significant contributions.

2024 Award Committee
Committee Chair:

• Prof. Dr. A. Douglas Kinghorn, Ohio State University, USA.
  

Committee Members (listed in alphabetical order):

• Prof. Angelo Fontana, University of Naples “Federico II”, Italy;
• Prof. Binghe Wang, Georgia State University, USA;
• Dr. Diana Pinto, University of Aveiro, Portugal;
• Prof. Hideaki Kakeya, Kyoto University, Japan;
• Dr. RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel, University of Strathclyde, UK;
• Prof. Thomas Prisinzano, University of Kentucky, USA
• Prof. Wei Li, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, USA.

About the Tu Youyou Award:
The 2024 Tu Youyou Award includes a total monetary prize of 100,000 Swiss Francs and a medal for each recipient. Established in 2016 to honor the pioneering spirit of Nobel laureate Tu Youyou, the Tu Youyou Award is an international award honoring exceptional scholars dedicated to the fields of natural products chemistry and medicinal chemistry.

For further information about the award and the winners, please visit the Tu Youyou Award website.

Conference: ACS Fall 2025
Date: 17–21 August 2025
Location: Washington, DC, USA 

MDPI will be attending ACS Fall 2025, which will be held from 17 to 21 August 2025 in Washington, DC, USA. 

The Fall 2025 conference of the American Chemical Society (ACS) will be held in Washington, D.C., the center of global policy. As the largest international academic event in the field of chemistry, this session focuses on “Chemistry Powering Multidisciplinary Solutions”, addressing global challenges such as climate change, the public health crisis, and the energy transition, and promoting the strategic shift from basic research to industrial application. The core theme forums mainly include the following points:

• Breakthroughs in Energy Materials:
• Stability regulation of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI);
• Optimization of hydrogen production efficiency through photocatalytic water cracking (target > 15%);
• Pathways for enhancing the selectivity of carbon dioxide electrocatalytic conversion to C₂+ products.
• Life Sciences and Health:
• Clinical transformation of targeted protein degradation (PROTAC) technology;
• The application of single-cell metabolomics in the early diagnosis of cancer;
• AI-driven rational design of antimicrobial peptides.
• Sustainable Development Technologies:
• Development of plastic chemical recycling catalysts (depolymerization rate ≥ 95%);
• Trace pollutant adsorption based on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs);
• Alternative evaluation of green solvents in pharmaceutical processes (PMI index optimization). 

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Molecules;
• Nanomaterials;
• Separations;
• Materials;
• Batteries;
• Polymers;
• Molbank;
• Organics;
• AppliedChem;
• Liquids;
• Reactions;
• Membranes;
• Colorants;
• Chemistry;
• Analytica;
• Coatings;
• Crystals;
• Electrochem;
• Applied Sciences;
• Catalysts;
• Sustainable Chemistry;
• Ceramics;
• C;
• CMD. 

If you are planning to attend the conference, we encourage you to visit our booth and speak to our representatives. We are eager to meet you in person and assist you with any queries that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the official website: https://www.acs.org/events/fall.html.

Dr. Hiroyuki Ueda’ published paper:

“A Polymer-Binder-Free Approach to Creating Functional LiFePO4 Cathodes by Organic Ionic Plastic Crystal-Derived Ion-Conductive Binders”
by Daniela M. Josepetti, Maria Forsyth, Patrick C. Howlett and Hiroyuki Ueda
Batteries 2025, 11(1), 3; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11010003
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/1/3

The following is a short interview with Dr. Hiroyuki Ueda:

The Electromaterials group at Deakin University is a diversified, multidisciplinary research team with >50 people, including professors, associate professors, research, technical, or administrative staff members, Ph.D. students, and research interns. We have been tackling many research questions in the energy sector by leveraging the group’s extensive expertise in material modelling, synthesis, and characterisation; battery implementation, testing, and demonstration from the laboratory to pilot scale; and metal recovery. The group was established in 2010 and was formerly led by Prof. Maria Forsyth, who has significantly contributed to research on energy materials, especially ionic materials, including ionic liquids, OIPCs, and solid polymer electrolytes. The group has continually reported groundbreaking findings for multiple battery formats, including lithium-ion, lithium-metal, sodium-ion, sodium-metal, zinc-air, and SSBs. Among them, my team has mainly focused on the development of SSBs to provide breakthrough energy-storage options.

2. Please share what inspired your research?
Our paper demonstrated the use of OIPC−Li salt binary mixtures (hereafter referred to as OIPC electrolytes) as binders in the electrode layer for the first time. This approach was inspired by my previous discovery in graphite−OIPC composite electrodes (Batter. Supercaps, 2022, 5(7), e202200057); containing OIPC electrolytes in the electrode composition minimised the changes in the state-of-charge-dependent resistances of the electrodes, which implies that OIPC electrolytes can stabilise particle−particle and particle−current-collector contacts. This would be the additional benefit of using OIPC electrolytes as their intended function is mainly ion conduction in SSBs. Therefore, I was motivated to investigate the binding properties of OIPC electrolytes in this paper. We deliberately removed the polymer binders from the electrode layer so that we could clarify this point by the achievable electrode parameters (i.e., theoretical areal capacity and electrode density) and battery performance (i.e., cyclability).

3. In your career of battery research, which mentor or predecessor has had the greatest influence on your scientific thinking? How does this influence reflect on the writing style of this paper or the choice of research path?
Since I came back to academia, Prof. Maria Forsyth and Prof. Patrick C. Howlett have served as mentors for me. I have been fortunate to receive countless pieces of invaluable advice from them throughout my research career. Prof. Forsyth’s everlasting passion towards scientific understanding and development has often reminded me of the importance of consistently advancing research activities with enthusiasm, even if I face the chains of unsuccessful experimental results. In addition, Prof. Howlett’s forward-thinking approach has helped me form novel research ideas and assisted in shaping pragmatic solutions for any difficulties in research activities. Both distinguished researchers in the battery field have significantly influenced my research philosophy. Owing to their support, I was able to believe in my research path, overcome many challenges associated with this paper, and succeed in demonstrating the idea of using OIPC electrolytes as ion-conductive binders in electrodes.

4. Why did you choose to publish with Batteries, and how was your experience?
This was because I had an invitation to submit a research paper to Batteries, and their editorial team was generous to consider options to accommodate the standard article processing charge after reviewing the previous pre-printing version of the paper (https://doi.org/10.20517/scierxiv202408.01.v1) and its potential impact if published. Batteries is one of the well-known journals in the energy sector. Their peer-review process was fast and accurate; I received many suggestions from reviewers and addressing them surely improved the quality of the paper. The proofreading process after peer review was also fast, ensuring the speedy dissemination of scientific findings. Moreover, the Editorial Office was happy to announce the publication of this paper on their social media and chose my research for the cover of their January 2025 issue (https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/1). Overall, I have been satisfied with the journal’s strong support for fast-paced publication with high-quality papers and assistance in forming its impact on the battery community.

5. What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing this paper, and how did you overcome it?
The electrode preparation for this paper was done before the establishment of the Battery Research and Innovation Hub in mid-2022 and, therefore, Daniela (+MESC master’s student at that time) and I had to develop a reliable method to generate homogeneous electrode slurries without using a planetary centrifugal mixer that is commonly used for this purpose. We did multiple trials using many small-scale instruments (including magnetic stirrers) and finally concluded that ball-milling with a few ZrO₂ balls allows us to prepare homogeneous electrode slurries (without unnecessarily crushing electrode materials). Although another preparation method would be beneficial in improving theoretical areal capacity for reference polymer-binder-containing electrodes, this approach enabled reliable comparisons in performance metrics between resulting polymer-binder-free LFP−OIPC electrodes with different compositions in this paper.

6. How did feedback during your research influence your direction?
Feedback from my research team and reviewers’ comments on earlier versions of the paper were important in refining the methodology of experiments as well as the way of presenting research findings. For instance, we successfully proved the structural stability of polymer-binder-free LFP−OIPC electrodes by showing their intactness in liquid electrolyte solutions; the concept of this experiment was mutually formed through multiple discussions within the team. On the other hand, we were able to explain many advantageous features of our polymer-binder-free approach (when compared to the conventional polymer-binder-containing composition) after revision. We did additional experiments to address reviewers’ comments, which effectively correlated the electrode’s processability with the physical state of OIPC electrolytes. Therefore, I feel that consistent teamwork and peer reviews greatly improved the significance and potential impact of the paper.

7. What are the current challenges in the battery research field, and how can they be addressed?
There are many ongoing challenges in battery research. For instance, there is a trade-off between the safety and energy density of batteries; the more active materials can store energy, the more risk these batteries inherently have (e.g., thermal runaway when shorted). Although many researchers have been studying metal anodes intending to exploit their exceptionally high theoretical capacity, a strong tendency of metal–dendrite formation hampers their widespread applications in real-world rechargeable batteries. “Anode-free” configurations partly improve battery safety, but their reversible operation relies on the plating/stripping of metal species and, therefore, safety issues associated with metal anodes have yet to be overcome intrinsically. In this respect, battery chemistries without plating/stripping might be highly sought after; these include intercalation/deintercalation reactions (e.g., well-known for graphite), alloying/dealloying reactions (e.g., for Si), and redox reactions in general. My research team has demonstrated the versatility of composite electrode formulations with non-flammable OIPC electrolytes across a wide range of active materials for SSBs, which not only includes conventional materials (e.g., LFP, LiNi_xMn_yCo_1−x−yO₂, graphite, and Li₄Ti₅O₁₂) but also high-capacity materials (e.g., Si, and conversion cathode material: Chem. Mater. 2024, 36(15), 7222–7231). Therefore, I believe one of the possible solutions to balance safety and energy density is employing the SSB format with thermally stable solid electrolytes (e.g., OIPC electrolytes) and high-capacity materials. I hope the ongoing research in my team will generate many fruitful findings to address this point.

This is my first last-corresponding-author paper where I contributed to most aspects of the paper preparation and handling from the beginning. I consistently helped Daniela with her experimental progress and assisted her with manuscript drafting through multiple discussions about possible story flow and key findings that we needed to write. Daniela successfully drafted the first version of the manuscript from scratch, and I took over further writing with some additions of new sections. Prof. Forsyth and Prof. Howlett joined some discussions within the team and advised us on further experimental investigations, which ensured that the paper’s narrative did not fully rely on assumptions and helped construct discussions based on actual data. I think our teamwork significantly enriched the paper’s quality, and I hope it provides useful insights into the development of OIPC-containing electrodes for battery applications.

9. What trends and technologies do you see shaping the future of battery technology?
Other than the safety and energy-density limitations mentioned earlier, I think the focus on developing battery technology has been gradually shifting towards more sustainable options. For instance, many researchers have started investigating electrode-preparation methods without using a harmful solvent (e.g., N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone), which includes water-based slurry preparation and electrode manufacturing without any solvents (i.e., dry process). These will potentially reduce the environmental impact of the current production steps. Another example is replacing synthetic polymers in batteries with bio-based ones. This makes resulting batteries more eco-friendly and potentially simplifies their recycling processes (e.g., by dissolving the polymer separators in water for separation, whereas polyethylene or polypropylene separators are relatively hard to separate). My research team has also been studying some sustainable approaches using OIPC electrolytes, and I hope I can disseminate relevant publications in the near future.

10. What impact do you hope your research will have, and what key innovation do you see in your paper?
Our paper clearly showed the three advantages of the polymer-binder-free approach over the conventional polymer-binder-containing electrode formulation: (1) A higher active-material loading without crack formation in the electrode layer, (2) a lower electrolyte amount in the electrode layer, and (3) a higher Coulombic efficiency during battery operation. Although I must admit that the cyclability of polymer-binder-free LFP−OIPC electrodes in this paper was not as good as that containing a polymer binder, this would potentially be solved when the electrodes are tested in SSBs. Through this study, we have demonstrated the dual functionalities of OIPC electrolytes as both ion conductors and binders, which lays a robust foundation for further development of OIPC-containing electrodes.

The paper was featured as the journal cover (https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/1) with an impressive scientific illustration for the top view of a polymer-binder-free LFP−OIPC electrode, which visually intensifies these two roles as the pre-built Li⁺-conduction pathways and intricate networks formed by the OIPC electrolyte. I would like to acknowledge Hibiki Asahori (https://www.hibikiasahori.com) for creating this cover illustration and The Fujikura Foundation for supporting this cost. I hope the journal cover will attract readers’ attention and encourage studies on innovative electrode formulations (e.g., composite electrodes with pre-filled electrolytes) for advanced rechargeable batteries.

Dr. Diogo M. F. Santos’ published paper:

“Synthesis and Electrochemical Characterization of Dissymmetric Tetrathiafulvalene Derivatives for Aqueous Rechargeable Batteries”
by João F. G. Rodrigues, Isabel C. Santos, Sandra Rabaça and Diogo M. F. Santos
Batteries 2025, 11(3), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11030092
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/3/92

The following is a short interview with Dr. Diogo M. F. Santos:

This work has been developed in the scope of the Ph.D. studies of my student João Rodrigues, who is producing organic electroactive materials for next-generation aqueous rechargeable batteries.

2. What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing this paper, and how did you overcome it?
This work’s biggest challenge was understanding the differences in electrochemical behavior between tetrathiafulvalene and its derivatives. By analyzing the reaction order for each peak and doing an in-depth literature search, we started understanding the reasoning behind these differences. Further studies will involve both experimental and computational methods.

3. What are the current challenges in the battery research field, and how can they be addressed?
In a broad sense, there is an urgent need to find alternatives to lithium-ion batteries to reduce the environmental impact of battery production and avoid future problems with lithium supply shortages.

In the specific case of small-molecule organic electrode materials, finding materials with good performance without requiring the addition of conductive additives continues to be a common problem. Additionally, cyclability problems hinder the ability of these organic electrode materials to be commercialized. These problems can only be addressed by continuing to synthesize and test new materials, building on the knowledge we have of rational design for organic materials for electrochemical applications.

A shift to aqueous batteries is also possible, as several strategies to increase water’s electrochemical stability window and allow for higher energy density aqueous batteries are being refined.

Discover how Dr. Antal Jákli and Mr. Zakaria Siddiquee’s innovative plasticized ionic liquid crystal elastomer emulsion electrolytes could transform battery technology in this revealing interview.

Dr. Antal Jákli and Mr. Zakaria Siddiquee’s published paper:

“Plasticized Ionic Liquid Crystal Elastomer Emulsion-Based Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium-Ion Batteries”
by Zakaria Siddiquee,  Hyunsang Lee,  Weinan Xu, Thein Kyu and Antal Jákli
Batteries 2025, 11(3), 106; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11030106
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/3/106

How could plasticized ionic liquid crystal elastomer emulsion-based polymer electrolytes enhance the safety and performance of next-generation lithium-ion batteries? Let’s read about Dr. Antal Jákli and Mr. Zakaria Siddiquee’s ideas.

1. Could you introduce yourself or your research group?
My name is Antal Jákli with 40 years of experience in soft matter physics with a special emphasis on liquid crystals. My current research group focuses on the fundamental and applied science of liquid crystal materials, with applications spanning optical devices, electrochemical systems, and smart materials. Recently, we have started a project on the studies of ionic liquid crystal elastomers. We have shown that they can be used for low-voltage actuation, to generate flexo-ionic currents, and to be used in Organic Electromechanical Transistors. Two years ago, I assigned one of my students, Zakaria Siddiquee, then a 3rd-year Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Physics at Kent State University, to explore their use as electrolytes in batteries.  Our goal was to enhance the performance and safety of next-generation solid-state battery technologies.

2. Please share what inspired your research?
The inspiration for our current research originated from a collaborative effort between my group, Thein Kyu and Weinan Xu from the Department of Polymer Engineering at the University of Akron on ionic liquid crystal elastomers as actuators and electric current generators. Dr. Kyu has long-term experience with polymer-based solid-state batteries gave me the idea to extend our collaborative work to novel solid-state batteries using ionic liquid crystal elastomers as electrolytes. As liquid crystal elastomers shrink on heating, they offer mechanical stability against overheating. Additionally, their anisotropy also offers much more efficient ion transport than conventional isotropic polymer electrolytes.

The corresponding author, Antal Jákli has published over 300 articles in international peer-reviewed journals, has over 20 patents, and also published one textbook (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=JsWVWfkAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao). For the first author, Zak Siddiquee this is his 2^nd publication. He also has a patent application for this battery technology.

The reason to publish in the journal Batteries was an invitation received by Jákli to submit a manuscript, and that Thein Kyu already had a positive experience publishing one of his previous works in this journal.  Batteries provided a clear and structured submission process, with well-defined formatting guidelines and a strict timeline—not only for authors but also for reviewers. We found the tight scheduling especially helpful. It allowed us to better plan and execute experiments efficiently, and it ensured that the overall progression of the paper remained on track. We would gladly consider publishing there again in the future.

3.  What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing this paper, and how did you overcome it?
As this was the first publication in the field of battery research for both Siddiquee and Jákli (for the 1^st and corresponding authors), the challenges we faced were to learn the proper experimental techniques and effectively articulate the novelty of our work—specifically how our liquid crystal elastomer differs from conventional polymers used in batteries. Fortunately, we had strong support from our collaborators at the University of Akron, who are highly experienced in polymer and battery research. Zak had the opportunity to work closely with Hyunsang Lee during the first year of his work, and that experience shaped many aspects of his approach to battery research. Lee was instrumental in teaching Zak the foundational skills required for this field, including the characterization of electrolyte properties, battery assembly, and safe operation of glovebox systems.

4. What are the current challenges in the battery research field, and how can they be addressed?
While we can’t speak for the entire battery research field, one of the major challenges in solid polymer electrolyte systems is low ionic conductivity. These materials often exhibit high theoretical capacity, but their limited charge/discharge rates prevent full utilization of that capacity, which significantly impacts performance, especially in high-power applications. Our research suggests that material anisotropy could offer a promising pathway forward. Traditional polymer electrolytes are isotropic and lack directional control over ion transport. In contrast, liquid crystal elastomers offer a unique advantage: they can be aligned to create anisotropic structures, introducing a new tunable parameter that can be engineered to enhance ionic pathways. By leveraging this property, we aim to develop electrolytes with improved ionic conductivity and overall electrochemical performance.

5. What trends and technologies do you see shaping the future of battery technology?
With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence, wearable electronics, and increasingly powerful portable devices, the demand for high-performance, safe, and compact energy storage solutions is greater than ever. This growing need is pushing innovation in both materials and design. One trend we find especially promising is the shift toward flexible, non-flammable solid polymer batteries. We believe that, in the near future, we may see batteries integrated seamlessly into device enclosures, for example, having the phone case itself function as the battery.

Dr. Ashley Willow’s published paper:

“Design and Validation of Anode-Free Sodium-Ion Pouch Cells Employing Prussian White Cathodes”
by Ashley Willow, Marcin Orzech, Sajad Kiani, Nathan Reynolds, Matthew Houchell, Olutimilehin Omisore, Zari Tehrani and Serena Margadonna
Batteries 2025, 11(3), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11030097   
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/3/97

The next battery revolution? Dr. Ashley Willow shares cutting-edge research on Prussian white cathodes for anode-free systems. Below is a short interview with the author.

My name is Ashley Willow and I hold a B.Sc. chemistry, M.Sc. Ccatalysis, and Ph.D. electrochemistry. I am a Senior Lecturer at Swansea University in the Department of Chemical Engineering and research within the Circular Approaches to Utilize and Retain Energy (CAPTURE) Centre of Expertise. My current research focus is on the understanding of traditional sodium-ion batteries and those that operate in the so-called “anode-free” format. I have a background in pouch cell assembly and have established pouch cell and cylindrical cell production facilities at Swansea University. I focus on understanding the issues associated with the transfer from coin cell to commercial cell formats in these chemistries. Before my most recent position at Swansea University, I spent several years in industry in the fields of post lithium-ion batteries (Lithium Sulfur) and investigating the electrochemistry of steel. I organized the international Sodium ion conference at Swansea University (STRIKE) and led the scale-up research efforts on sodium-ion anode-free cells.

A few key contributing factors inspired this research in particular. Firstly, working in the industry on pouch cell assembly and energy density calculations gave me key insights into how cell design influences energy density. I wanted to apply this experience to sodium-ion batteries, in particular to the relatively new area of sodium-ion anode-free batteries by realistically demonstrating the potential of this technology. I hope this work can guide the development of sodium ion anode-free and help bridge the industry-academia gap. This thinking led to the development of our open cell calculator (WattCell · Streamlit), a key outcome of the publication. Another inspiration is the rapid growth in understanding and application of sodium-ion batteries, which pushes everyone in our group to be part of this rapidly growing field.

I have been very lucky to have many great mentors and colleagues in academia and industry who have influenced me in different ways. My Ph.D. supervisor, Prof. Gary Attard, was hugely influential at the start of my career. His enthusiasm for experimental and fundamental electrochemistry sticks with me to this day. In industry, colleagues and mentors at OXIS Energy Ltd. fostered an environment of open scientific debate and discussion, which I continue to uphold. I currently work closely with many colleagues at Swansea University and, in particular, note Prof. Serena Margadonna’s influence. She encourages scientific rigor and ambition in battery research.

I particularly chose Batteries as the topic was well suited, especially concerning the Special Issue. The experience was very positive. Writing using the provided templates was straightforward, updates were clear and regular, the reviewer comments were helpful, and I am very happy with the final publication.

Teamwork was an essential pre-requisite of this work, which is true of most battery research due to its multidisciplinary nature. We required high-quality cathode synthesis (Dr. Sajad Kiani), coating and online cell calculator development (Dr. Marcin Orzech), and pouch cell assembly (me), to name a few factors. Without bringing these aspects together the paper would not have been possible.

Sodium-ion batteries will be hugely influential in the next decade. The commercial developments are essentially locked in due to efforts from large battery manufacturers and recent breakthroughs in energy density and cycle life. Sodium ion batteries are very suited for low-cost storage in a number of applications so the proliferation of this technology will expand naturally. I see sodium ion anode-free technology as very promising; the stack pressure requirements are lower than the lithium metal anode-free equivalent and they offer better cycle life also (although the literature in this area is sparse). Due to the removal of hard carbon, anode-free offers energy density advantages compared to intercalation-based sodium-ion batteries. Investigations to further improve the cycle life of anode-free are ongoing and could hugely shape the commercial direction of battery technology.

This article gives a clear direction in moving from single-layer pouch cells to multilayer cells with reasonable energy densities using a battery format (anode-free) that has growing research attention. This is the first demonstration of Prussian white-based sodium ion anode-free pouch cells and the start of the innovation process.

In the year 2025, we are thrilled to share that 14 academic journals are celebrating their 10th anniversary of establishment.

To commemorate this milestone, each journal has launched a dedicated online anniversary webpage to review academic achievements, envision future directions, and express heartfelt gratitude to all contributors—authors, reviewers, editorial board members, and supporters—who have played a pivotal role in the journals’ growth. It is through your dedication and outstanding contributions that these journals have grown and developed into influential platforms for global scholarly exchange.

Over the past decade, these journals have remained committed to the principles of open science, delivering exceptional value within their respective fields.

Key highlights include:

• Universe—A cornerstone for fundamental and applied physics research, spanning near-Earth space to cosmic phenomena;
• Batteries—Focuses on the latest research achievements in batteries and closely related disciplines, effectively connecting academic research with industrial practice;
• Magnetochemistry—Over 1,000 high-impact papers published, attracting worldwide attention in magnetic research;
• Non-Coding RNA—Evolved from an open-access pioneer to a leading platform in non-coding RNA studies;
• Safety—Emerged as a vital interdisciplinary platform dedicated to addressing global challenges in safety science, risk management, and injury prevention;
• Tomography—Provided early career scholars with valuable editorial experience and academic support, fostering their professional growth in medical imaging;
• Fermentation—Took microbial fermentation engineering as the core, promoting the leap of biomanufacturing from the laboratory to industrialization;
• Gels—Recorded the revolutionary breakthroughs of gel materials from basic research to intelligent applications;
• Journal of Imaging—Pioneering intelligent imaging technology to redefine the horizons of scientific discovery;
• International Journal of Neonatal Screening—Dedicated to the rapid publication and knowledge sharing of newborn screening research;
• C — Journal of Carbon Research—Explored the infinite possibilities of carbon science;
• Journal of Fungi—Revealed the mysteries of fungal science, from fundamental research to global public health applications;
• Beverages—Reshaped the beverage industry with technology, from flavor innovation to the upgrade of healthy consumption;
• Horticulturae—Restoring the symbiotic bond between humans and nature through innovative green technology.

As we embark on the next stage of our journey, we remain dedicated to upholding the highest standards of academic excellence and fostering a vibrant academic community.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported MDPI. Moving forward, we are committed to advancing open science, enhancing publishing services, and fostering the transformation of research outcomes. Together, let us continue to drive academic progress and global scholarly collaboration.

We are pleased to share that Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105) was awarded an increased Impact Factor of 4.8 in the 2024 Journal Citation Reports™ released by Clarivate™ in June 2025. The journal ranks as follows:

• Q2 (12th out of 44 titles) in the “Electrochemistry” category;
• Q2 (84th out of 182 titles) in the “Energy and Fuels” category;
• Q2 (148th out of 460 titles) in the “Materials Science, Multidisciplinary” category.

The 2024 Journal Impact Factor is calculated by dividing the number of citations received in 2024 for all publications in the journal from 2022 and 2023 by the total number of citable publications from those same years.

For further statistics, please visit our journal statistics website. For more information about MDPI flagship journals’ citation metrics, please see here.

The support and dedication of all the editors, reviewers, authors, and readers are integral to the journal’s success. We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the journal.

We are pleased to announce that the Young Women in Engineering Award is open for nominations. This award was established to acknowledge the achievements of young women investigators in the field of engineering and to inspire young women to consider research and careers in engineering. All the nominations will be assessed by an Award Evaluation Committee, and winners will be announced online on 8 March 2026.

Prizes:

• CHF 1000;
• An electronic certificate;
• A voucher to waive the article processing charges (APCs) for one submission to a journal within the field of engineering (subject to peer review)—valid for one year.

Number of winners: 2.

Eligibility and requirements:

• This role is designated for female candidates;
• Must have received their Ph.D. no more than 10 years prior to 31 December 2025;
• Must have produced groundbreaking research and made a significant contribution to the advancement of engineering;
• Must be nominated by senior scientists.

List of documents for nomination:

• Detailed curriculum vitae, including an updated publication list and a list of the researcher’s own research grants;
• Scanned copy of doctorate certificate;
• Signed nomination letters from two established senior scientists.

Schedule:

Open for nominations: 23 June 2025;
Nomination deadline: 30 November 2025;
Winner announcement: 8 March 2026.

Nominations and contact:

All nomination materials and award-related communications must be submitted via our official email: ywe-award@mdpi.com.

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. We look forward to receiving your nominations.

Young Women in Engineering Award Team

We are pleased to announce that Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105) received an increased CiteScore of 6.6 in June 2025, which is an impressive achievement, with the following ranks: 

• Q1 (204th out of 970, improvement) in the “Electrical and Electronic Engineering” category;
• Q2 (79th out of 299, improvement) in the “Energy Engineering and Power Technology” category;
• Q2 (27th out of 64, improvement) in the “Electrochemistry” category;

For more journal statistics, please visit the following websites:

• https://www.mdpi.com/journal/batteries/stats;
• https://www.scopus.com/sourceid/21100905390.

The current CiteScores measure the average number of citations of a journal over a four-year window (2021–2024). The Scopus database provides a comprehensive suite of metrics that support informed publishing strategies and research evaluation and enable the benchmarking of journal performance.

This achievement reflects the collective efforts of our authors, reviewers, editors, and readers. Together, we will continue to track the progress of Batteries and its growing impact in the energy field.

Thank you to all those who have contributed to the journal.

Batteries Editorial Office