Announcements

Modern civilization is reliant on energy as a resource to power infrastructure, cook food, and heat homes. Myriad ways exist to harness this energy from various fuel sources, each with their own benefits and disadvantages. There is a growing demand for improved technologies in energy generation, storage, conversion, and transmission, and this demand propels research forward. MDPI journals in the cluster of Energy and Fuels are designed to accommodate the influx of research on energy and different types of fuels, including popular alternatives like wind and solar power. The most established journal in the cluster is Energies (IF: 3.2), developed in 2008 as a generalized outlet for all forms of energy research. Subsequent journals serve as more specialized outlets for authors to choose from.

The 11 participating journals are as follows:

• Energies (ISSN: 1996-1073) publishes papers on scientific research, technology development, engineering policy, and management studies related to the general field of energy, from technological problems in energy supply, conversion, dispatch, and final use to the thermodynamics of the physical and chemical processes behind such technologies. Energies is led by its Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Enrico Sciubba (University Niccolò Cusano, Italy);
• Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105) covers all topics related to batteries and electrical energy storage systems. All electrochemical systems—such as lithium-ion; lead–acid; nickel metal hydride; metal–air; and next-generation batteries, supercapacitors, or fuel cells—are of interest. Papers can be related to applications—for example, portable, electric vehicle, stationary, or photovoltaic systems—or they can be independent of an application. Batteries is led by its Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Karim Zaghib (Concordia University, Canada);
• Hydrogen (ISSN: 2673-4141) provides an advanced forum for studies related to chemical, physical, and engineering developments in hydrogen science and technology. It publishes reviews, traditional research papers, and communications, as well as Special Issues on particular subjects. Hydrogen is led by its Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Thomas Klassen (University of the Federal Armed Forces Hamburg, Germany);
• Biomass (ISSN: 2673-8783) covers all aspects of bioenergy, biorefining for materials and/or energy, and the circular use of biogenic carbon in the form of biomass, focusing on chemical, biochemical, and engineering routes of biomass conversion and harnessing. The journal addresses biomass, biowaste, residues, and byproduct conversion into added-value materials and energy in the framework of contributing towards a sustainable, resource-efficient, and eco-friendly economy. Biomass is led by its Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Dimitris P. Makris (University of Thessaly, Greece);
• Electricity (ISSN: 2673-4826) covers studies related to all aspects of electrical engineering. It publishes reviews, traditional research papers, and short communications, as well as Special Issues on particular subjects. The aim of Electricity is to encourage scientists to publish their experimental and theoretical results in as much detail as desired. Electricity is led by its Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Andreas Sumper (Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya, Spain);
• Wind (ISSN: 2674-032X) focuses on scientific research in wind-related fields, including concept development, design tools, engineering technologies, energy markets, economics, policies, social and environment impacts, and ecology aspects. Wind is led by its Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Horia Hangan (Ontario Tech University, Canada);
• Fuels (ISSN: 2673-3994) is a peer-reviewed, open access journal that publishes original research, review articles, and communications on all areas of fuel science and technology, in a timely manner. The aim of the journal is to provide a platform for scientists and engineers all over the world to share, promote, and disseminate their research innovations in the field of fuel characterization, processing, and technology. Fuels is led by its Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Badie Morsi (University of Pittsburgh, USA);
• Gases (ISSN: 2673-5628) is an international and interdisciplinary peer-reviewed open access journal of gas science and engineering, published quarterly online by MDPI. Gases covers the field of applied science and engineering advances in natural gas, gas emissions, gaseous pollutants, (greenhouse) gas control, and gas sensors. Gases is led by its Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Ben J. Anthony (University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada);
• Solar (ISSN: 2673-9941) publishes scientific research on photovoltaics and solar thermal conversion. In addition, articles discussing solar technologies’ politics, economy, and environmental issues are also welcome. Solar was indexed by ESCI in July 2025. Solar is led by its Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Jürgen Heinz Werner (University of Stuttgart, Germany);
• Energy Storage and Applications (ESA, ISSN: 3042-4011) is an international open access journal on energy storage technologies and their applications, publishing reviews, regular research papers, and short communications. Our aim is to focus on the investigation of novel storage technologies, analytical and modeling techniques, system integration, and the operational strategies of storage systems. ESA is led by its Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Zhaoyang Dong (City University of Hong Kong, China);
• Methane (ISSN: 2674-0389) publishes novel research findings, reviews, communications, and other article types that examine all aspects of methane, its natural creation or synthesis, its use (industrial use, transportation, etc.), its impact (economic, environmental, etc.), and its recycling. Our aim is to encourage scientists to publish their experimental and theoretical results in as much detail as possible. Full experimental details must be provided so that the results can be reproduced. Methane is led by its Editor-in-Chief, Prof. Dr. Patrick Da Costa (Sorbonne Université, France).

	Launch Year	Impact Factor (2024)	CiteScore (2024)	First Decision (median)	APC (CHF)
	2008	3.2	7.3	16.2	2600
	2015	4.8	6.6	18.5	2700
	2020	3.0	5.5	17.6	1200
	2021	/	4.2	19.8	1000
	2020	1.8	5.1	26	1200
	2021	1.7	2.9	28.3	1200
	2020	2.8	/	24.7	1200
	2021	/	5.4	27.5	1000
	2021	/	4.3	21.3	1000
	2024	/	/	19	1000
	2022	/	/	25.9	1000

MDPI’s mission and values:

As a pioneer of academic open access publishing, MDPI has been serving the scientific community since 1996. Our aim is to foster scientific exchange in all forms, across all disciplines. MDPI’s guidelines for disseminating open science are based on the following values and guiding principles:

• Open Access—All of our content is published as open access and distributed under a Creative Commons License, providing free access to science and the latest research, allowing articles to be freely shared and content to be re-used with proper attributions;
• Timeliness and Efficiency—Publishing the latest research through thorough editorial work, ensuring a first decision is provided to authors in under 32 days and papers are published within 7–10 days upon acceptance;
• Simplicity—Offering user-friendly tools and services in one place to enhance the efficiency of our editorial process;
• High Quality Service—Supporting scholars and their work by providing a range of options, such as journal publication at mdpi.com, early publication at preprints.org, and conferences on sciforum.net, to make a positive impact on research;
• Flexibility—Adapting and developing new tools and services to meet the changing needs of the research community, driven by feedback from authors, editors, and readers;
• Rooted in Sustainability—Ensuring the long-term preservation of published papers and supporting the future of science through partnerships, sponsorships, and awards.

By adhering to these values and principles, MDPI remains committed to advancing scientific knowledge and promoting open science practices.

Selected Topics and Special Issues:

• “New Journey of Energy and Electric Vehicle Revolutions-Infinities Possibilities in the Science World: In Honor of Prof. Dr. C.C. Chan’s 90th Birthday”;
• “Batteries: 10th Anniversary”;
• “The Hydrogen Horizon: Advancing End-Use Applications and Ensuring Safety in a Thriving Hydrogen Economy”;
• “Recent Advances in Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass and Waste to Fuels, Chemicals and Materials”;
• “Electromagnetic Compatibility and Electromagnetic Interference in Inverter Dominated Grids”;
• “O&M and Innovative Solutions Bringing Scale and Speed to Wind Energy Engineering”;
• “Biomass Conversion to Biofuels: 2nd Edition”;
• “Bio-Energy: Biogas, Biomethane and Green-Hydrogen”;
• “Efficient and Reliable Solar Photovoltaic Systems: 2nd Edition”.

Selected Articles:

Energies
“Energy Forecasting: A Comprehensive Review of Techniques and Technologies”
by Aristeidis Mystakidis, Paraskevas Koukaras, Nikolaos Tsalikidis, Dimosthenis Ioannidis and Christos Tjortjis
Energies 2024, 17(7), 1662; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17071662

Batteries
“A Review of Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling: Technologies, Sustainability, and Open Issues”
by Alessandra Zanoletti, Eleonora Carena, Chiara Ferrara and Elza Bontempi
Batteries 2024, 10(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10010038  

Hydrogen
“Hydrogen from Waste Gasification”
by Reinhard Rauch, Yohannes Kiros, Klas Engvall, Efthymios Kantarelis, Paulo Brito, Catarina Nobre, Santa Margarida Santos and Philipp A. Graefe
Hydrogen 2024, 5(1), 70-101; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrogen5010006  

Biomass
“A Review on Biochar as an Adsorbent for Pb(II) Removal from Water”
by Pushpita Kumkum and Sandeep Kumar
Biomass 2024, 4(2), 243-272; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass4020012   

Electricity
“Renewable Electricity and Green Hydrogen Integration for Decarbonization of “Hard-to-Abate” Industrial Sectors”
by Alessandro Franco and Michele Rocca
Electricity 2024, 5(3), 471-490; https://doi.org/10.3390/electricity5030024

Wind
“Floater Assembly and Turbine Integration Strategy for Floating Offshore Wind Energy: Considerations and Recommendations”
by Glib Ivanov and Kai-Tung Ma
Wind 2024, 4(4), 376-394; https://doi.org/10.3390/wind4040019

Fuels
“Cathode Materials for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel Cells”
by Jamila Nisar, Gurpreet Kaur, Sarbjit Giddey, Suresh Bhargava and Lathe Jones
Fuels 2024, 5(4), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/fuels5040045

Gases
“The Hydrogen Color Spectrum: Techno-Economic Analysis of the Available Technologies for Hydrogen Production”
by Jose M. Marín Arcos and Diogo M. F. Santos
Gases 2023, 3(1), 25-46; https://doi.org/10.3390/gases3010002

Solar
“Design of a Novel Hybrid Concentrated Photovoltaic–Thermal System Equipped with Energy Storages, Optimized for Use in Residential Contexts”
by Carmine Cancro, Valeria Palladino, Aniello Borriello, Antonio Romano and Luigi Mongibello
Solar 2024, 4(4), 526-554; https://doi.org/10.3390/solar4040025

Energy Storage and Applications
“Comprehensive Analysis of Parametric Effects on the Specific Heat Capacity of Pristine and Aged Lithium-Ion Cells”
by Luca Tendera, Gerrit Karl Mertin, Carlos Gonzalez, Dominik Wycisk, Alexander Fill and Kai Peter Birke
Energy Storage Appl. 2024, 1(1), 35-53; https://doi.org/10.3390/esa1010004

Methane
“Photoperiod Regulates Aerobic Methane Emissions by Altering Plant Growth and Physiological Processes”
by Mirwais M. Qaderi and Kate Burton
Methane 2024, 3(3), 380-396; https://doi.org/10.3390/methane3030021

The 18th European Congress and Exhibition on Advanced Materials and Processes—FEMS EUROMAT 2025 will be held from 14 to 18 September 2025, in Granada, Spain. The conference is organized by the Spanish Society of Materials.

Areas of interest include the following:

• Functional materials;
• Structural materials;
• Processing;
• Characterization, modeling and Artificial Intelligence;
• Energy and transportation;
• Materials for healthcare;
• Education, dissemination, strategy, and technology transfer;
• Materials for circularity and sustainability.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Materials;
• Metals;
• Biomimetics;
• Nanomaterials;
• J. Compos. Sci.;
• Batteries;
• JFB;
• Solids;
• Modelling;
• AI;
• Lubricants;
• BDCC;
• Technologies;
• Construction Materials;
• Waste;
• Crystals;
• C;
• Alloys;
• Electronic Materials;
• NDT.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to initiate an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #3 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following link: https://euromat2025.com/.

Editor’s Choice Articles are selected based on suggestions from the academic editors of Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105). The editors select a small number of recently published articles that they consider particularly interesting to our readers or important in their respective fields of research. You are therefore invited to read the Editor’s Choice Articles, a curated list of high-quality articles published in Batteries. The full list of Editor’s Choice Articles can be viewed via the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/batteries/editors_choice.

1. “Water-in-Salt Electrolytes: Advances and Chemistry for Sustainable Aqueous Monovalent-Metal-Ion Batteries”

by Rashmi Nidhi Mishra, Anil Kumar Madikere Raghunatha Reddy, Marc-Antoni Goulet and Karim Zaghib
Batteries 2025, 11(4), 120; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11040120
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/4/120

2. “Optimizing Multi-Microgrid Operations with Battery Energy Storage and Electric Vehicle Integration: A Comparative Analysis of Strategies”

by Syed Muhammad Ahsan and Petr Musilek
Batteries 2025, 11(4), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11040129
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/4/129

3. “Carbonaceous Materials as Anodes for Lithium-Ion and Sodium-Ion Batteries”

by Koorosh Nikgoftar, Anil Kumar Madikere Raghunatha Reddy, Mogalahalli Venkatashamy Reddy and Karim Zaghib
Batteries 2025, 11(4), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11040123
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/4/123

4. “Assessment of Laser-Ablated Silicon Wafers as Lithium-Ion Battery Anodes”

by Byeongcheol Min, Anustup Chakraborty, Chen Cai, Mool C. Gupta and Gary M. Koenig, Jr.
Batteries 2025, 11(4), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11040121
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/4/121

5. “Advances in Standardised Battery Testing for Enhanced Safety and Innovation in Electric Vehicles: A Comprehensive Review”

by Márton Pepó, Soma Fullér, Tibor Cseke and Zoltán Weltsch
Batteries 2025, 11(4), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11040157
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/4/157

6. “Electrochemical–Thermal Modeling of Lithium-Ion Batteries: An Analysis of Thermal Runaway with Observation on Aging Effects”

by Milad Tulabi and Roberto Bubbico
Batteries 2025, 11(5), 178; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11050178
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/5/178

7. “Domain Generalization Using Maximum Mean Discrepancy Loss for Remaining Useful Life Prediction of Lithium-Ion Batteries”

by Wenbin Li, Yue Yang and Stefan Pischinger
Batteries 2025, 11(5), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11050194
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/5/194

8. “Comprehensive Study of the Gas Volume and Composition Generated by 5 Ah Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC) Li-Ion Pouch Cells Through Different Failure Mechanisms at Varying States of Charge”

by Gemma E. Howard, Katie C. Abbott, Jonathan E. H. Buston, Jason Gill, Steven L. Goddard and Daniel Howard
Batteries 2025, 11(5), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11050197
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/5/197

9. “A Review of Battery Energy Storage Optimization in the Built Environment”

by Simone Coccato, Khadija Barhmi, Ioannis Lampropoulos, Sara Golroodbari and Wilfried van Sark
Batteries 2025, 11(5), 179; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11050179
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/5/179

10. “Characterization of Industrial Black Mass from End-of-Life LiFePO_4-Graphite Batteries”

by Nanna Bjerre-Christensen, Caroline Birksø Eriksen, Kristian Oluf Sylvester-Hvid and Dorthe Bomholdt Ravnsbæk
Batteries 2025, 11(6), 210; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11060210
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/6/210

11. “Advances in the Battery Thermal Management Systems of Electric Vehicles for Thermal Runaway Prevention and Suppression”

by Le Duc Tai and Moo-Yeon Lee
Batteries 2025, 11(6), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11060216
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/6/216

12. “A Review of EV Adoption, Charging Standards, and Charging Infrastructure Growth in Europe and Italy”

by Mahwish Memon and Claudio Rossi
Batteries 2025, 11(6), 229; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11060229
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/6/229

Editor’s Choice Articles are selected based on suggestions from the academic editors of Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105). The editors select a small number of recently published articles that they consider particularly interesting to our readers or important in their respective fields of research. You are therefore invited to read the Editor’s Choice Articles, a curated list of high-quality articles published in Batteries. The full list of Editor’s Choice Articles can be viewed via the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/batteries/editors_choice.

1. “Research on the Thermal Runaway Behavior and Flammability Limits of Sodium-Ion and Lithium-Ion Batteries”

by Changbao Qi, Hewu Wang, Minghai Li, Cheng Li, Yalun Li , Chao Shi, Ningning Wei, Yan Wang and Huipeng Zhang
Batteries 2025, 11(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11010024
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/1/24

2. “Investigation of the Suitability of the DTV Method for the Online SoH Estimation of NMC Lithium-Ion Cells in Battery Management Systems”

by Jan Neunzling, Philipp Hainke, Hanno Winter, David Henriques, Matthias Fleckenstein and Torsten Markus
Batteries 2025, 11(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11010025
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/1/25

3. “A Millimeter-Resolution Operando Thermal Image of Prismatic Li-Ion Batteries Using a Distributed Optical Fiber Sensor”

by Zhen Guo, Mina Abedi Varnosfaderani, Calum Briggs, Erdogan Guk and James Marco
Batteries 2025, 11(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11010019
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/1/25

4. “On the Performance of Portable NiMH Batteries of General Use”

by Diego F. Quintero Pulido, Catalin Felix Covrig and Matthias Bruchhausen
Batteries 2025, 11(1), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11010030
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/1/30

5. “Analysis of Aging and Degradation in Lithium Batteries Using Distribution of Relaxation Time”

by Muhammad Sohaib, Abdul Shakoor Akram and Woojin Choi
Batteries 2025, 11(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11010034
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/1/34

6. “Temperature-Dependent FTIRS Study of Manganese Oxide Spinel Obtained by Solution Combustion Synthesis (SCS) for Supercapacitor Applications”

by Taylan Karakoç, Sécou Sall and Sergey N. Pronkin
Batteries 2025, 11(2), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11020039
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/2/39

7. “Sustainable Extraction of Critical Minerals from Waste Batteries: A Green Solvent Approach in Resource Recovery”

by Afzal Ahmed Dar, Zhi Chen, Gaixia Zhang, Jinguang Hu, Karim Zaghib, Sixu Deng, Xiaolei Wang, Fariborz Haghighat, Catherine N. Mulligan, Chunjiang An et al.
Batteries 2025, 11(2), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11020051
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/2/51

8. “Review on Advancements in Carbon Nanotubes: Synthesis, Purification, and Multifaceted Applications”

by Anil Kumar Madikere Raghunatha Reddy, Ali Darwiche, Mogalahalli Venkatashamy Reddy and Karim Zaghib
Batteries 2025, 11(2), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11020071
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/2/71

9. “Heteroatom Doping Strategy of Advanced Carbon for Alkali Metal-Ion Capacitors”

by Ti Yin, Yaqin Guo, Xing Huang, Xinya Yang, Leixin Qin, Tianxiang Ning, Lei Tan, Lingjun Li and Kangyu Zou
Batteries 2025, 11(2), 69; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11020069
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/2/69

10. “Advancements in Vibration Testing: Effects on Thermal Performance and Degradation of Modern Batteries”

by Khursheed Sabeel, Maher Al-Greer and Imran Bashir
Batteries 2025, 11(2), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11020082
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/2/82

11. “A Review of Pnictogenides for Next-Generation Anode Materials for Sodium-Ion Batteries”

by Sion Ha, Junhee Kim, Dong Won Kim, Jun Min Suh and Kyeong-Ho Kim
Batteries 2025, 11(2), 54; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11020054
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/2/54

12. “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

13. “Exploring the Solubility of Ethylene Carbonate in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide: A Pathway for Sustainable Electrolyte Recycling from Li-Ion Batteries”

by Nils Zachmann, Claude Cicconardi and Burçak Ebin
Batteries 2025, 11(3), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries11030098
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/11/3/98

14. “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

MDPI is excited to announce its participation as an exhibitor at the 2025 Fall Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS), taking place in Warsaw, Poland, from 15 to 18 September 2025.

The 2025 Fall Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) will take place at the main campus of the University of Technology in Warsaw, Poland, and will consist of parallel symposia with invited speakers, oral and poster presentations, assorted by one plenary session to provide an international forum for discussing recent advances in the field of materials science.

The high-quality scientific program will address different topics organized into 23 symposia arranged in four clusters covering the fields of:

• Materials for energy, sustainability, and extreme conditions;
• Characterization, simulation, and artificial intelligence;
• Thin film, flexible and composite materials and their formation techniques;
• Electronic, photonic, nano, low-dimensional quantum materials;
• Cultural heritage.

The latest scientific results will be presented, and authors are invited to submit papers in the selected journals that fit the scope of each symposium.

The focus of the scientific program will be both on fundamental investigations and technological applications, providing an international forum for discussing recent advances related to the different aspects to be considered to promote innovation.

The following MDPI journals will be presented at the conference:

• Crystals;
• Microplastics;
• Hydrogen;
• Coatings;
• Energies;
• Sci;
• Metals;
• Batteries;
• Construction Materials;
• Electronic Materials.

If you are planning to attend the conference, please feel free to get in contact with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #13 and answering any questions that you may have.

For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.european-mrs.com/meetings/2025-fall-meeting.

All papers published in 2023 in Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105) were considered for the Batteries 2023 Best Paper Award. After a thorough evaluation of the originality and significance of the papers, as well as their citations and downloads, the winner was selected:

“Trends in Automotive Battery Cell Design: A Statistical Analysis of Empirical Data”
by Steffen Link, Christoph Neef and Tim Wicke
Batteries 2023, 9(5), 261; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9050261
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/5/261

The winners will receive CHF 100 and a chance to publish a paper free of charge after peer review in Batteries in 2025.

Information about authors:

The following is an interview with Mr. Steffen Link:

Background and Inspiration

My name is Steffen Link, and I am a researcher at the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (ISI) in Karlsruhe, Germany. Our institute is dedicated to advancing innovative solutions across various domains, including technology and innovation management, sustainable development, and the analysis of economic and technological trends. We support decision-making processes in politics, industry, and society through our applied research and consulting services. The two departments involved—Emerging Technologies and Energy Technology and Energy Systems—collaborate closely in the rapidly evolving battery market and ecosystem, covering topics such as demand forecasting, supply chain analysis, the assessment of technology potential, optimization of production processes, the exploration of alternative battery technologies beyond lithium-ion, and the assessment of battery-related applications for both mobile and stationary use cases.

The research behind our award-winning paper was motivated by a desire to gather a comprehensive set of near-industry information and practical insights. By publishing this paper, we aimed to empower the battery community with the latest and most relevant data from the electrode level to the cell level and the pack level, addressing a critical challenge faced by battery researchers and engineers, namely, a lack of data availability. This limitation hinders the effective development of innovative solutions and the efficient advancement of battery technologies, which are essential for boosting electrification and decarbonization and enhancing sustainability.

Publishing Experience

We chose to publish with Batteries due to its rapid publication process and strong reputation in the field of battery technology, ensuring that our research reached a relevant audience. Our experience was positive; the thorough review by three reviewers provided valuable feedback and enhanced the paper, making the process both fair and challenging.

Research Process and Challenges

The biggest challenge we faced while writing this paper was managing its extensive scope, which encompassed multiple topics, ranging from electrodes and components to cell-level and pack-level analyses. Here, finding the right balance between broad coverage and depth of content to obtain a comprehensive understanding was crucial. Additionally, we needed to systematically gather all relevant data points and navigate the publication of sensitive data points while preserving confidentiality.

The feedback helped us to achieve the right balance between broad coverage and depth of content, ensuring that we addressed the key topics without overwhelming the reader, refining our focus, and enhancing the overall clarity.

Battery research faces key challenges such as boosting energy density, cutting charging times, extending lifespan, improving safety, and reducing costs. Sustainability is also a concern due to the reliance on scarce or toxic materials. Solutions include exploring alternative chemistries or even alternative battery technologies—like solid-state, lithium–sulfur, and sodium-ion batteries—advancing nanomaterials and battery and thermal management systems, and recycling to enable safer, more efficient, and sustainable use of circular batteries.

Teamwork and Collaboration

As the lead author, I coordinated the research efforts and structured the overall framework of the paper. I delegated chapter content based on each team member’s expertise, ensuring the efficient use of our strengths. This division and collaboration were essential—without it, completing our comprehensive paper within a limited period of time would have been extremely difficult.

Future Insights

Key trends shaping the future of battery technology include the rise of alternative chemistries such as solid-state, lithium–sulfur, and sodium-ion batteries. I would also expect a stronger differentiation between low-cost, lower-performance batteries and high-performance, premium solutions tailored to specific applications. Additionally, and particularly for Europe, an increasing focus on circularity, recycling, and local supply chains will be critical for enhancing its sovereignty and competitiveness in the global battery market.

Advice and Impact

I hope that our research contributes by providing up-to-date, near-industry data and insights that support informed decision-making in battery development. The key innovation lies in enhancing transparency—offering a clear, structured overview and distinct KPI that fill the gap between academic research and industrial application.

All papers published in 2023 in Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105) were considered for the Batteries 2023 Best Paper Award. After a thorough evaluation of the originality and significance of the papers, as well as their citations and downloads, the winner was selected:

“Battery State of Health Estimate Strategies: From Data Analysis to End-Cloud Collaborative Framework”
by Kaiyi Yang, Lisheng Zhang, Zhengjie Zhang, Hanqing Yu, Wentao Wang, Mengzheng Ouyang, Cheng Zhang, Qi Sun, Xiaoyu Yan, Shichun Yang and Xinhua Liu
Batteries 2023, 9(7), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9070351
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/7/351

The winners will receive CHF 200 and a chance to publish a paper free of charge after peer review in Batteries in 2025.

Authors’ information:
Affiliations: Beihang University, China; Imperial College London, UK; Coventry University, UK; China First Automobile Group Corporation, China
Research Interests: energy material design; battery microstructure modeling; cloud-based battery system management

The following is an interview with Prof. Shichun Yang:

Background and Inspiration
1. Could you introduce yourself or your research group?
I am Shichun Yang from Beihang university, and I currently work in the School of Transportation Science and Engineering. The research topics of our team include fireproof vehicular battery systems, safety brains for intelligent connected vehicles, flying cars, and wireless charging systems. I have been selected as a National Leading Talent, Fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers of China, and Fellow of IET and awarded 12 scientific and technological awards.
I established the team in 2009, which focuses on smart management and control for intelligent connected electric vehicles. Currently, the team has 12 professors, 17 assistant professors, and over 100 students. Most of them are national young talents and contribute significantly to the industry.
In our study on fireproof vehicular battery systems, we proposed an integrated vehicle–cloud framework for battery management named Cyber Hierarchy and Interactional Network (CHAIN) and jointly released the world’s first vehicle–cloud battery management system with Huawei. The products have been promoted to the owners of more than 12 million electric vehicles, accounting for more than 60% of the inventory in China. The project “Key Technologies and Applications for Vehicle Battery End-Cloud Integrated Control and Supervision” received the 2024 Highest Prize for Technological Invention in Tianjin province and the 2022 Special Prize for Technological Invention from the Society of Automotive Engineers of China (SAE-China).
In our research on safety brains for intelligent connected vehicles, we proposed an innovative architecture for safer intelligent connected vehicles named the safety brain, which fuses functional safety, safety of the intended functionality (SOTIF), and cybersecurity. We designed self-developed software tolls and full-V-process test platforms, including software-in-loop (SIL), hardware-in-loop (HIL), and vehicle-in-loop (VIL). We have developed two generations of hardware, as well as an original software platform. The associated applications include L4 autonomous vehicles, sweeping vehicles, and intelligent driving vehicles, and this project won the 2022 First Prize for Science and Technology Progress from the Ministry of Education.
In our research on flying cars, we developed the original configuration of a flying car by coupling the tilting rotor and folding wings, which has the advantages of high-speed flying and a limited width of the folding wings. It has the ability to travel through narrow roads, achieving the integration of road driving and flying. We have developed four generations of flying car prototypes, including splitting flying cars, tilting-culvert flying cars, composite-wing flying cars, and folding-wing flying cars
In our research on wireless charging systems, we developed a high-efficiency wireless charging system, whose maximum efficiency can reach 98%. Based on this equipment, we have promoted it for rocket, satellite, lunar rover, and underwater systems.

2. Please share what inspired your research?
For the conventional battery management system, the estimation of the SOH has strong relevance to the online board and is also restricted by the problem of limited calculation and data storage ability. The complex algorithms and models have few possibilities for real applications in vehicular BMSs. Thanks to the implementation of T-BOX, the data and information of vehicular batteries can be uploaded to the cloud platform, and with the large-scale calulcation and parallel analysis ability, a precise and long-term prediction of a battery’s SOH is realizable. From 2019 to now, our team has conducted research on a cloud management system for batteries and established the vehicular–cloud collabratative system for Goxion high Tech., BYD, and other cooperations. Due to our research and experience, we drafted this manuscript to share and review the progress of SOH estimation.

Publishing Experience
3. Why did you choose to publish with Batteries, and how was your experience?
Batteries is a great publication with fast peer review and high-quality published articles. Considering its consistent publication of papers on topics relating to battery SOH, we chose to submit the article to Batteries. The submission system is easy to use, with limited delay. We would also like to acknowledge the contribution of reviewers and editors in the timely publication of our paper.

Research Process and Challenges
4. What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing this paper, and how did you overcome it?
The mismatch between cloud monitoring conditions and the real conditions is one of the major challenges for battery SOH estimation. For various kinds of electric vehicles, the batteries would have noticeable deviations in their performances, and from the monotoring data, it is hard to distinguish and achieve a targeted model for each battery. Thus, an AI-driven deep-layered model would be helpful for finding out the variation in batteries. Moreover, theory-inspired methods, such as the reduced-order model, are helpful in this area.

5. How did feedback during your research influence your direction?
Feedback fundamentally steered my research by reshaping its core trajectory. It critically influenced the topic selection—peer insights revealed gaps in practical relevance, prompting a pivot toward urgent real-world challenges rather than purely theoretical explorations. Throughout the process, constructive criticism consistently adjusted my direction, such as shifting methodologies to address validity concerns when blind spots emerged. Most crucially, feedback acted as a corrective lens, exposing unconscious biases or flawed assumptions that risked producing misleading conclusions. This external perspective forced a deeper scrutiny of my approach, transforming potential errors into opportunities for rigor. Ultimately, embracing feedback became a dynamic calibration tool—continuously refining the intellectual compass to maintain both academic integrity and impact.

6. What are the current challenges in the battery research field, and how can they be addressed?
Current battery research faces critical challenges, including energy density limitations for demanding applications such as aviation, the resource scarcity of materials such as cobalt, with ethical mining concerns, and persistent safety–reliability trade-offs in high-energy systems. Solutions demand integrated innovation: replacing liquid electrolytes with solid-state alternatives could simultaneously boost the energy density and thermal stability, while shifting toward cobalt-free chemistries such as sodium-ion or advanced lithium iron phosphate would alleviate supply chain strains—especially when combined with robust recycling ecosystems. Simultaneously, deploying AI-powered battery management systems that predict degradation patterns through adaptive algorithms can optimize performance while curtailing failure risks. Crucially, these technical advances must be accelerated by policy frameworks standardizing second-life applications and fostering industry–academia consortia to bridge lab discoveries to commercial scaling. Holistically addressing material constraints, circularity gaps, and intelligent controls remains pivotal for sustainable electrification.

Teamwork and Collaboration
7. What role did you play in your research team, and how did teamwork affect the paper’s outcome?
As the principal investigator, my core role was orchestrating the team’s expertise and resources toward high-impact outcomes. By aligning cross-disciplinary insights with evolving industry imperatives, I guided the research focus toward critical gaps in energy storage scalability and safety—steering theoretical explorations into practical solution frameworks. I actively fostered an environment where diverse perspectives could interrogate each phase, transforming fragmented findings into a cohesive, rigorous narrative. This collaborative ethos ensured that we avoided isolated academic pursuits, instead co-developing adaptable models with tangible relevance to manufacturing and deployment challenges. Ultimately, by integrating specialized skills within a unified vision focusing on real-world needs, our collective effort achieved the density, efficiency, and safety breakthroughs recognized by this award—demonstrating how purpose-driven collaboration bridges innovation and application.

Future Insights
8. What trends and technologies do you see shaping the future of battery technology?
First, the innovation in solid-state battery technology will achieve the leap from laboratory research to mass production.​​ Currently, some kinds of solid-state batteries have achieved commercialization. For example, the battery that was equipped in the IM L6 Lightyear Edition by SAIC boasts an energy density of 400 Wh/kg, while all solid-state batteries are expected to achieve mass production between 2027 and 2030. ​Second, low-cost sodium-ion battery technology​ leverages abundant sodium resources, lower costs, and superior low-temperature performance, complementing lithium-ion batteries. It holds significant potential in cost-sensitive energy storage scenarios and short-distance transportation. ​Third, battery recycling technology​ faces an urgent demand, as EVs produced between 2010 and 2015 are now reaching retirement. The booming battery industry in recent years will inevitably drive the growth of battery recycling. However, the current recycling methods remain immature and highly polluting, necessitating further exploration of low-cost, low-emission, and pollution-free solutions. ​Fourth, intelligent battery management systems utilize AI-driven precise control and machine learning models to advance fault warnings from minute-level to day-level predictions. They also optimize charging/discharging strategies to extend batteries’ lifespan.

Advice and Impact
9. What impact do you hope your research will have, and what key innovation do you see in your paper?
My research ultimately aims to accelerate the electrification of society by addressing a critical barrier: unpredictable battery degradation. The core innovation centers on transforming how battery health is estimated. While traditional methods rely on isolated data analyses with limited adaptability, our paper pioneers an end-cloud collaborative framework. This approach dynamically fuses real-time edge-device measurements with cloud-based AI analytics to achieve unprecedented SOH prediction accuracy across diverse operating conditions—spanning consumer electronics to EV batteries.
Beyond technical novelty, its significance lies in solving real-world scalability. The framework enables continuous learning from distributed devices while preserving user privacy and minimizing data transmission costs. This directly supports cost-effective battery lifespan extension, safer operations, and optimized second-life use—key hurdles in mass electrification. By providing a versatile, industry-ready methodology rather than incremental algorithm tweaks, we hope to catalyze the wider adoption of reliable energy storage systems and accelerate our sustainable mobility future.

All papers published in 2023 in Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105) were considered for the Batteries 2023 Best Paper Award. After a thorough evaluation of the originality and significance of the papers, as well as their citations and downloads, the winner was selected:

“Challenges and Future Prospects of the MXene-Based Materials for Energy Storage Applications”
by Svitlana Nahirniak, Apurba Ray and Bilge Saruhan
Batteries 2023, 9(2), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9020126
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/2/126

The winners will receive CHF 100 and a chance to publish a paper free of charge after peer review in Batteries in 2025.

Information about authors:

The following is an interview with Dr. Bilge Saruhan:

Background and Inspiration
1. Could you introduce yourself or your research group?
My name is Bilge Saruhan, a Senior Scientist at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). My research group is working on electrochemical energy storage materials and devices with integrated damage sensing and triggered self-healing functions, which are integrated into textiles and fiber-reinforced composites, resulting in smart batteries and supercapacitors. My team, consisting of postdoctoral researchers, doctoral students, master's students, and bachelor’s students, works in collaboration to investigate and develop materials and systems.

2. Please share what inspired your research?
The necessary innovation for intelligent and powerful batteries and the use of MXenes to meet this need.

3. In your career in battery research, which mentor or predecessor has had the greatest influence on your scientific thinking? How does this influence or reflect on the writing style of this paper or the choice of research path?
Our research direction is influenced by numerous researchers. However, the development of a writing style that reflects the essence of the work is the result of many years of experience in the field and the building of a complementary team. 

Publishing Experience
4. Why did you choose to publish in Batteries, and how was your experience?
I have been familiar with MDPI’s journals for over 10 years and have served as an Editorial Board Member and reviewer. Therefore, I know and appreciate the style of publication employed. Batteries is characterized by its conscientious yet friendly approach to readers, which motivated me and my team to publish in this journal.

Research Process and Challenges
5. What was the biggest challenge you faced while writing this paper, and how did you overcome it?
Research on MXenes has been broad in scope. Researchers have investigated a wide range of compositions. In some cases, no two studies on the same MXene composition exist, so a comparison could be conducted to weigh the advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, there are studies that might be addressing one aspect of battery applications with a particular composition, while another study addresses a completely different area. When writing a review article on such a heterogeneously studied field, one must be critical and carefully analyze each result to obtain reliable and consistent comparative conclusions.

6. How did feedback during your research influence your direction?
A deep and complementary knowledge is essential to be able to critically analyze the results of others when writing a review article.

7. What are the current challenges in the battery research field, and how can they be addressed?
There are two fundamental challenges in current battery research, namely, the high cost of raw materials such as lithium and other transition metal oxide-based materials, and safety concerns that may limit their widespread applications. As a result, production costs increase further, making current battery technologies less economically viable. On the other hand, in some applications, such as EVs and smart phones, the use of LIBs has recently caused frequent fires and explosions that may limit their widespread use. Even under normal operating conditions, current batteries can generate significant amounts of heat in high-temperature atmospheres, which leads to thermal runaway of the battery cells due to unwanted parasitic reactions and gas evolution. To address such challenges, it is necessary to focus on new and innovative strategies for the development of next-generation battery technologies based on readily available raw materials and new cell designs, which will make future batteries more cost-effective and safe to operate in different conditions, while at the end of life, recycling and reuse should be considered. Teamwork and collaborative research are very crucial to achieve this goal.

8. What role did you play in your research team, and how did teamwork affect the paper’s outcome?
Our research team works on a wide range of topics, including the development of materials for all battery and supercapacitor components and their comprehensive testing, gas sensors that can also be used in batteries and other sensor materials, and catalytic material systems. My role in this multidisciplinary research portfolio is therefore to promote collaboration within the research team and with surrounding national and international research groups. Furthermore, I am involved in the development of guidelines and funding for our innovative research to enable the achievement of high-quality results that lead to outstanding publications.

Future Insights
9. What trends and technologies do you see shaping the future of battery technology?
To ensure battery safety and prevent degradation for sustained high performance, it is essential to integrate self-healing functions and degradation detection mechanisms into the battery cell using sensors. This requires the development of innovative materials, as well as component and cell manufacturing technologies, to produce such smart batteries. Next-generation batteries will be not only high-performance, but also safe and intelligent.

Advice and Impact
10. What impact do you hope your research will have, and what key innovation do you see in your paper?
Our research aims to develop innovative, sustainable, and high-performance battery materials by replacing critical materials with more environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternatives. Our award-winning paper explores a new class of materials that has enormous potential to improve battery performance in a variety of ways. Reader interest is proof that we have struck the right chord.