Announcements

All papers published in 2022 in Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105) were considered for the Batteries 2022 Best Paper Award. After a thorough evaluation of the originality and significance of the papers, citations, and downloads, the winner was selected:

“Recent Development in Carbon-LiFePO₄ Cathodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Mini Review”
by Brindha Ramasubramanian, Subramanian Sundarrajan, Vijila Chellappan, M. V. Reddy, Seeram Ramakrishna and Karim Zaghib
Batteries 2022, 8(10), 133; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries8100133
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/8/10/133

The winners will receive CHF 100 and a chance to publish a paper free of charge after peer review in Batteries in 2024.

Information of authors:

Name: Brindha Ramasubramanian
Affiliation: Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117574, Singapore
Research Interests: nanomaterials, electrochemistry, batteries, machine learning and sustainability

Self-introduction:
I am currently a Ph.D. student at the National University of Singapore (NUS) | SINGA Awardee & Scholar at the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE), Agency of Science, Technology, and Research, Singapore (A*STAR). My primary research interests include synthesis of 2D hybrid nanomaterials, next-generation batteries, electrochemistry and circular economy in product development.

Name: Subramanian Sundarrajan
Affiliation: Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117574, Singapore
Research Interests: polymer chemistry, heat exchangers, nanofibers and energy storage

Self-introduction:
I graduated with an M.Sc. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of Madras, India, in 1996, and I was awarded one of the most prestigious fellowships in India, ‘‘Senior Research Fellow’’, by CSIR before completing my Ph.D. at the University of Madras in 2003. I joined the National University of Singapore in 2003 and have worked on the synthesis of polymers and the electrospinning of nanofibers, investigating their applications in battery, air, water, and tissue engineering, as well as clean and sustainable energy.

Name: Vijila Chellappan
Affiliation: Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117574, Singapore
Research Interests: optoelectronics, intelligent materials, sustainable energy storage devices, high throughput experimentation and machine learning

Self-introduction:
I am currently a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials, National University of Singapore, with over 20 years of experience in examining various device technologies (photovoltaics, displays, lasers, energy storage), material systems (semiconducting polymers, oxides, transition metal dichalcogenides, conducting composites), and transient optical/electrical spectroscopy techniques. I have also helped establish high-throughput optical methodologies for machine-learning-enabled process/property optimization. I received my Ph.D. degree in physics from the Anna University, India, in 2001 and carried out postdoctoral research at Åbo Academy University, Turku, Finland, from 2001 to 2002.

Name: M. V. Reddy
Affiliation: Nouveau Monde Graphite, 481 Rue Brassard, Saint-Michel-de-Saints, QC J0K 3B0, Canada
Research Interests: nanomaterials, electrochemistry and batteries

Self-introduction:
I am currently working as a Senior Professional Researcher at Nouveau monde Graphite, Quebec, Canada.  For the last 20 years, I have been working on materials for energy storage, such as cathodes, anodes, and solid electrolytes for Li/Na/K- ion batteries and supercapacitors. I am also a member of ICDD USA, IPS, and MRS Singapore, and I have won many awards and given 230 talks all over the world.

Name: Seeram Ramakrishna
Affiliation: Center for Nanotechnology and Sustainability, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117574, Singapore
Research Interests: biomaterials, circular economy, nanofibers, electrospinning, energy storage and wearables

Self-introduction:
I am currently a professor at the National University of Singapore and among the World’s Most Influential Minds (Thomson Reuters). My current research interests include circular economy, electrospinning, next generation electronic devices and wearables.

Name: Karim Zaghib
Affiliation: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 Boulevard de Maisonneuve, Montréal, QC H3G 1M8, Canada
Research Interests: nanomaterials, electrochemistry, batteries

Self-introduction:
I am currently a professor of chemical and materials engineering at Concordia University. As former director of research at Hydro-Québec, my research interests include rechargeable batteries, electrochromic devices, and electrochemistry of carbon materials.

 The following is an interview with Prof. Karim Zaghib:

1. Could you please briefly introduce the main content of the winning paper?
This review presents state-of-the-art research on the significance of carbon addition to LiFePO₄ cathodes in lithium-ion batteries during the time when it was published. We have discussed recent advancements and future prospects in this area and the impact of carbon incorporation on the structural and electrochemical properties of LiFePO₄.  Aspects of carbon, such as size, shape, diffusion, bonding, additives, dopants, and surface functionalization, and their effects on LiFePO₄ cathodes were explained, along with prospects for future advancements in LIB LiFePO₄ technology.

2. What’s your current research and why did you choose this research field?
M. V. Reddy is working in the area of anode materials and energy storage materials, and Brindha Ramasubramanian and Seeram Ramakrishna are working on 2D nanomaterials and carbon for Li-ion and Al-ion storage.

3. Could you describe the difficulties and breakthrough innovations in this research field?
One of the major challenges in LiFePO₄ and LIBs is electrode degradation over repeated charge–discharge cycles, capacity fade and reduced battery lifespan. Other challenges in LIBs include low lithium diffusion, dendrites and volume changes. Nanostructuring LiFePO₄ particles and carbon coatings improves lithium diffusion kinetics, while doping strategies and nanomaterials enhance conductivity and ion transfer. Surface modifications, like coatings and functionalization, can help to optimize surface chemistry and lithium-ion diffusion in LiFePO₄ carbon electrodes.

4. Have you ever encountered any difficulties while conducting research? How did you overcome them?
Initially, we encountered challenges in establishing the lab and optimizing parameters for materials synthesis and characterization. After a series of trial-and-error methods, we were finally able to resolve these issues.

5. Which research topics do you think will be of particular interest to the research community in the coming years?
Several research topics are likely to capture the interest of the research community in the coming years in the field of Li-ion batteries, some of those are Solid-State LIBs, Si anodes for LIBs, artificial SEI and beyond Li-ion chemistry such as Na-ion and Al-ion chemistries.

6. What appealed to you about the journal that made you want to submit your paper? What benefits do you think authors can gain when publishing their articles in Batteries?
Batteries is a specialized journal in this field, with Prof. Karim and Dr. M. V. Reddy serving on its Editorial Board. It presents an excellent opportunity for us to submit our paper to this open access journal. We received positive feedback, and the publication process was swift. After our review was published, it was widely read by many authors and garnered a significant number of citations.

7. How was your experience submitting to Batteries?
We had a smooth, fast and constructive experience when submitting to Batteries.

8. Do you have any advice for aspiring young researchers looking to make a meaningful impact in their respective fields?
Making an impact in any research field requires dedication, hard work, and a commitment to lifelong learning and growth. Staying passionate, curious, and persistent with critical thinking will help aspirants to have profound contributions to science and society.

9. Can you briefly describe the key to a happy laboratory life? Have you ever encountered any difficulties conducting research and how did you overcome them?
The key to a happy laboratory life revolves around fostering a supportive, collaborative, and positive work environment. As for difficulties in conducting research, challenges are common in scientific research. Whether it's encountering unexpected results, experimental failures, funding setbacks, or interpersonal conflicts, overcoming obstacles is an inherent part of the research process. Seeking guidance and advice from mentors, troubleshooting methodically, staying resilient in the face of setbacks, and maintaining a positive attitude will help to overcome the challenges.

10. We are an open access journal. How do you think open access impacts the authors?
Yes, open access has a huge impact.

11. As the winner of this award, is there something you want to express, or someone you would like to thank most?
Thanks to the MDPI Batteries team for their efforts in selecting our review for this award.