Announcements
19 February 2025
Batteries | Hot Papers with Excellent Graphical Abstracts in Q1 of 2024
We are pleased to share the following 15 papers with excellent graphical abstracts published in Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105). These papers were selected as they were of particular interest and importance to our readers and well received by researchers in Q1 of 2024. It is therefore believed that they will continue to capture readers’ attention and provide invaluable opportunities for follow-up research. We hope you will find something of interest among these exceptional publications.
1. “In Situ/Operando Techniques for Unraveling Mechanisms of Ionic Transport in Solid-State Lithium Indium Halide Electrolyte”
by Farzaneh Bahmani, Collin Rodmyre, Karen Ly, Paul Mack and Alevtina White Smirnova
Batteries 2024, 10(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10010021
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/1/21
2. “Advancements and Challenges in Solid-State Battery Technology: An In-Depth Review of Solid Electrolytes and Anode Innovations”
by Abniel Machín, Carmen Morant and Francisco Márquez
Batteries 2024, 10(1), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10010029
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/1/29
3. “Pretreatment of Lithium Ion Batteries for Safe Recycling with High-Temperature Discharging Approach”
by Arpita Mondal, Yuhong Fu, Wei Gao and Chunting Chris Mi
Batteries 2024, 10(1), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10010037
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/1/37
4. “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
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/1/38
5. “Engineering Dry Electrode Manufacturing for Sustainable Lithium-Ion Batteries”
by Mohamed Djihad Bouguern, Anil Kumar Madikere Raghunatha Reddy, Xia Li, Sixu Deng, Harriet Laryea and Karim Zaghib
Batteries 2024, 10(1), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10010039
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/1/39
6. “Sodium Polymer Electrolytes: A Review”
by Sumit Kumar, Rajesh Raghupathy and Michele Vittadello
Batteries 2024, 10(3), 73; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10030073
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/3/73
7. “Film Thickness Effect in Restructuring NiO into LiNiO2 Anode for Highly Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries”
by Thang Phan Nguyen and Il Tae Kim
Batteries 2024, 10(3), 80; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10030080
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/3/80
8. “Direct Recycling Technology for Spent Lithium-Ion Batteries: Limitations of Current Implementation”
by Anna Pražanová, Zbyněk Plachý, Jan Kočí,Michael Fridrich, and Vaclav Knap
Batteries 2024, 10(3), 81; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10030081
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/3/81
9. “Recent Advances in Thermal Management Strategies for Lithium-Ion Batteries: A Comprehensive Review”
by Yadyra Ortiz, Paul Arévalo, Diego Peña and Francisco Jurado
Batteries 2024, 10(3), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10030083
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/3/83
10. “Modification of Layered Cathodes of Sodium-Ion Batteries with Conducting Polymers”
by M. Ángeles Hidalgo, Pedro Lavela, José L. Tirado and Manuel Aranda
Batteries 2024, 10(3), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10030093
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/3/93
11. “Carbon-Free Cathode Materials Based on Titanium Compounds for Zn-Oxygen Aqueous Batteries”
by Jorge González-Morales, Jadra Mosa, Sho Ishiyama, Nataly Carolina Rosero-Navarro, Akira Miura, Kiyoharu Tadanaga and Mario Aparicio
Batteries 2024, 10(3), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10030094
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/3/94
12. “Effect of Mixing Intensity on Electrochemical Performance of Oxide/Sulfide Composite Electrolytes”
by Jessica Gerstenberg, Dominik Steckermeier, Arno Kwade and Peter Michalowski
Batteries 2024, 10(3), 95; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10030095
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/3/95
13. “Sodium Citrate Electrolyte Additive to Improve Zinc Anode Behavior in Aqueous Zinc-Ion Batteries”
by Xin Liu, Liang Yue, Weixu Dong, Yifan Qu, Xianzhong Sun and Lifeng Chen
Batteries 2024, 10(3), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10030097
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/3/97
14. “Diphenylphosphoryl Azide as a Multifunctional Flame Retardant Electrolyte Additive for Lithium-Ion Batteries”
by Zhirui Li, Longfei Han, Yongchun Kan, Can Liao and Yuan Hu
Batteries 2024, 10(4), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10040117
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/4/117
by Arnaud Bordes, Arnaud Papin, Guy Marlair, Théo Claude, Ahmad El-Masri, Thierry Durussel, Jean-Pierre Bertrand, Benjamin Truchot and Amandine Lecocq
Batteries 2024, 10(4), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10040118
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/4/118
19 February 2025
Batteries | Notable Papers Published in 2024 (Volume 10, Issue 11)
We are delighted to present 10 selected papers published in Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105) Volume 10, Issue 11. These high-quality papers cover a wide range of topics, including lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, and the battery state of health, to name a few. We hope you will find something of interest among these exceptional publications.
1. “Synthesis Methods of Si/C Composite Materials for Lithium-Ion Batteries”
by Inkyu Park, Hanbyeol Lee and Oh B. Chae
Batteries 2024, 10(11), 381; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10110381
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/11/381
2. “Multi-Step Ageing Prediction of NMC Lithium-Ion Batteries Based on Temperature Characteristics”
by Abdelilah Hammou, Boubekeur Tala-Ighil, Philippe Makany and Hamid Gualous
Batteries 2024, 10(11), 384; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10110384
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/11/384
3. “Novel One-Step Production of Carbon-Coated Sn Nanoparticles for High-Capacity Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries”
by Emma M. H. White 1, Lisa M. Rueschhoff, Steve W. Martin and Iver E. Anderson
Batteries 2024, 10(11), 386; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10110386
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/11/386
4. “Developing an Innovative Seq2Seq Model to Predict the Remaining Useful Life of Low-Charged Battery Performance Using High-Speed Degradation Data”
by Yong Seok Bae, Sungwon Lee and Janghyuk Moon
Batteries 2024, 10(11), 389; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10110389
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/11/389
5. “Model-Based Performance Evaluation of Hybrid Solid-State Batteries: Impact of Laser-Ablated Geometrical Structures”
by Maximilian Scheller, Axel Durdel, Alexander Frank and Andreas Jossen
Batteries 2024, 10(11), 392; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10110392
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/11/392
6. “Thermal Propagation Test Bench for the Study of the Paschen Curve and Lightning Arcs of Venting Gas”
by Björn Mulder, Kai Peter Birke, Björn Obry, Stefan Wigger, Ruslan Kozakov, Pavel Smirnov and Jochen Schein
Batteries 2024, 10(11), 397; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10110397
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/11/397
7. “Prediction of Lithium-Ion Battery State of Health Using a Deep Hybrid Kernel Extreme Learning Machine Optimized by the Improved Black-Winged Kite Algorithm”
by Juncheng Fu, Zhengxiang Song, Jinhao Meng and Chunling Wu
Batteries 2024, 10(11), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10110398
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/11/398
8. “The Role of Interfacial Effects in the Impedance of Nanostructured Solid Polymer Electrolytes”
by Martino Airoldi, Ullrich Steiner and Ilja Gunkel
Batteries 2024, 10(11), 401; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10110401
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/11/401
9. “Assessment of a Top and Bottom Cooling Strategy for Prismatic Lithium-Ion Cells Intended for Automotive Use”
by Said Madaoui, Bartlomiej Guzowski, Roman Gozdur, Zlatina Dimitrova, Nicolas Audiot, Jocelyn Sabatier, Jean-Michel Vinassa and Franck Guillemard
Batteries 2024, 10(11), 403; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10110403
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/11/403
10. “Coupled Electro-Thermal-Aging Battery Pack Modeling—Part 1: Cell Level”
by Hadi Pasdarshahri, Émile Veilleux, William Mooney, Luc G. Fréchette, François Grondin and David Rancourt
Batteries 2024, 10(11), 404; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10110404
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/11/404
17 February 2025
MDPI Celebrates Excellence in Medical Research with Early Career Researcher Awards
MDPI, a pioneer in scholarly open access publishing, and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), Singapore, proudly announce the successful conclusion of the first edition the MDPI Early Career Researcher Awards. The awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to medical and biomedical research, were presented to six exceptional researchers during an awards ceremony held at LKCMedicine HQ Building on 28 November 2024.
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Honoring Excellence in Research
The awards recognize exceptional postdoctoral researchers and Ph.D. students who have demonstrated outstanding originality, innovation, and impact in their respective fields. We are honored to announce the winners of the 2024 edition:
Early Career Researcher (Postdoc) Award:
- Dr. Theresia Handayani Mina, “Adiposity and Metabolic Health in Asian Populations: An Epidemiological Study Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Singapore”;
- Dr. Erfan Rezvani Ghomi, “Wound Healing Improvement by Novel Aligned Antimicrobial Nanofibrous 3D Scaffolds”;
- Dr. Yadollah Ranjbar Slamloo, “Functional Alterations of The Prefrontal Circuit Underlying Cognitive Aging in Mice”.
Early Career Researcher (Ph.D.) Award:
- Pritisha Rozario, “Mechanistic Basis for Potassium Efflux-Driven Activation of the Human NLRP1 Inflammasome”;
- Michelle Law Cheok Yien, “Chikungunya Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 is a Versatile RNA Capping and Decapping Enzyme”;
- Yin Ruoyu, “The Use of Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Tools in Older Adults: A Mixed Method Study”.
Our collaboration highlights a shared commitment to recognizing exceptional talent and research within the academic community, addressing today’s healthcare challenges, and inspiring continued innovation.
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Looking Ahead to 2025
Building on the success of the first edition, MDPI and LKCMedicine are excited to announce that the 2025 MDPI Early Researcher Awards will continue to celebrate excellence and innovation in medical research. The next edition promises to expand its scope, introducing new categories and providing even greater recognition for impactful research.
Further details on the 2025 awards, including nomination criteria and timelines, will be shared in the coming months. We remain committed to fostering a culture of research excellence and collaboration within the global scientific community.
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13 February 2025
Meet Us at the ACS Spring 2025, 23−27 March 2025, San Diego, CA, USA
Conference: ACS Spring 2025
Organization: American Chemical Society
Date: 23−27 March 2025
Place: San Diego, CA, USA
Booth ID: 3749
A number of MDPI journals will be attending ACS Spring 2025 as exhibitors, an exciting event being held in San Diego, CA, USA, from 23 to 27 March 2025.
ACS Meetings & Expositions are the prime location for chemistry professionals to meet in order to exchange ideas and advance scientific and technical knowledge. By attracting thousands of professionals in the field of chemistry, the meetings provide excellent opportunities for peers to engage with one another and share their passion for chemistry, connecting with one of the world's largest scientific societies and helping to advance careers in this ever-changing global field.
The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:
- Molecules;
- Crystals;
- DDC;
- Laboratories;
- Materials;
- Polymers;
- Separations;
- Analytica;
- AppliedChem;
- Batteries;
- Chemistry;
- Fibers;
- Inorganics;
- Molbank;
- Organics;
- Reactions.
If you are attending the above conference, please feel free to start a conversation with us at our booth, booth #3749. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person and answering any questions that you may have.
Of the participating journals, one is celebrating its anniversary:
The year 2025 also marks the 10th anniversary of Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105), a peer-reviewed, open access journal of chemistry, published online on a monthly basis by MDPI. With an Impact Factor of 4.6 and a CiteScore of 4.0, the journal is indexed in Scopus, SCIE (Web of Science), Inspec, Ei Compendex, CAPlus/SciFinder, and other databases.
We value the contributions made by our editors, authors, and reviewers.
13 February 2025
Batteries | Issue Cover Collection Published in 2024
1. “Determination of Fast Battery-Charging Profiles Using an Electrochemical Model and a Direct Optimal Control Approach”
by Julio Gonzalez-Saenz and Victor Becerra
Batteries 2024, 10(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10010002
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/1/2
This paper describes a novel approach to determining a fast-charging profile for a lithium-ion battery by using a simplified single-particle electrochemical model and direct collocation methods for optimal control. An optimal control problem formulation and a direct solution approach were adopted to effectively address the issue. The results show that, in some cases, the optimal current profile resembles that of the constant current–constant voltage charging protocol. Several challenges and knowledge gaps were addressed in this work, including a reformulation of the optimal control problem, utilizing direct methods as an alternative to overcome the limitations of indirect methods employed in similar studies. The proposed formulation considers the minimum-time optimal control case, the trade-offs among the total charging time, the maximization of the lithium bulk concentration, and energy efficiency, along with inequality constraints and other factors not previously considered in the literature, which can be helpful in practical applications.
2. “On the State of Usability for Lithium–Ion Batteries”
by Christopher Wett, Jörg Lampe, Jan Haß, Thomas Seeger and Bugra Turan
Batteries 2024, 10(2), 57; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10020057
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/2/57
Lithium-ion batteries are well-established as traction batteries for electric vehicles. This has led to a growing market for second-life batteries that can be used in applications like home energy storage systems. Moreover, the recyclability and safe handling of aged or damaged cells and packs have become more important. While there are several indicators, like state of health (SOH), state of power (SOP), or state of safety (SOS), which describe the state of a battery before its defined end of life (EOL), there is no consistent classification methodology through which the usability of a cell or pack after its EOL is reached can be described. The proposed state of usability (SOU) provides a new indicator that accounts for the usability of a battery for a second life, recyclability, and the potential need for the safe handling of a lithium-ion battery after its first intended life cycle. This work presents a decision tree method, which in turn leads to five discrete usability levels, enabling a fast and rough determination of the SOU for practical use. Further, a calculation methodology for reasonable continuous regions of the SOU is proposed. Both methods are based on a literature-based rating of all of the relevant defect and aging mechanisms displayed in a risk matrix. Finally, some experimental methods that can be used for SOU determination are proposed. The developed methodology and the hands-on approach using a decision tree are well-suited for real-world applications in recycling companies and battery test laboratories.
3. “A Novel Long Short-Term Memory Approach for Online State-of-Health Identification in Lithium-Ion Battery Cells”
by Mike Kopp, Alexander Fill, Marco Ströbel and Kai Peter Birke
Batteries 2024, 10(3), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10030077
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/3/77
Revolutionary and cost-effective state estimation techniques are crucial for advancing lithium-ion battery technology, especially in mobile applications. The accurate prediction of the battery state of health (SoH) enhances the state-of-charge estimation while providing valuable insights into performance, second-life utility, and safety. While recent machine learning developments show promise in SoH estimation, this paper addresses two challenges. First, many existing approaches depend on predefined charge/discharge cycles with constant current/constant voltage profiles, which limits their suitability for real-world scenarios. Second, pure time series forecasting methods require prior knowledge of the battery’s lifespan in order to formulate predictions within the time series. Our novel hybrid approach overcomes these limitations by classifying the current aging state of the cell rather than tracking the SoH. This is accomplished by analyzing current pulses filtered from authentic drive cycles. Our innovative solution employs a Long Short-Term Memory-based neural network for SoH prediction based on residual capacity, making it well-suited for online electric vehicle applications. By overcoming these challenges, our hybrid approach emerges as a reliable alternative for precise SoH estimation in electric vehicle batteries, marking a significant advancement in machine learning-based SoH estimation.
4. “Assessment of Run-Off Waters Resulting from Lithium-Ion Battery Fire-Fighting Operations”
by Arnaud Bordes, Arnaud Papin, Guy Marlair, Théo Claude, Ahmad El-Masri, Thierry Durussel, Jean-Pierre Bertrand, Benjamin Truchot and Amandine Lecocq
Batteries 2024, 10(4), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10040118
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/4/118
As the use of Li-ion batteries grows more widespread, incidents in large energy storage systems (stationary storage containers, etc.) or large-scale cell and battery storages (warehouses, recyclers, etc.), often leading to fire, are occurring on a more regular basis. Water remains one of the most efficient fire extinguishing agents for tackling such battery incidents, and large quantities are usually necessary. Since batteries contain various potentially harmful components (metals and their oxides or salts, solvents, etc.) and thermal runaway-induced battery incidents are accompanied by complex and potentially multistage fume emissions (containing both gas and particles), the potential impact of fire run-off waters on the environment should be considered and carefully assessed. The tests presented in this paper focus on analyzing the composition of the run-off waters used to spray NMC Li-ion modules under thermal runaway. It highlights that waters used for firefighting are susceptible to containing many metals, including Ni, Mn, Co, Li, and Al, mixed with other carbonaceous species (soot, tarballs) and sometimes undecomposed solvents used in electrolytes. Extrapolation of pollutant concentrations compared with PNEC values showed that, for large-scale incidents, run-off water could be potentially hazardous to the environment.
5. “Ionic Conductivity Analysis of NASICON Solid Electrolyte Coated with Polyvinyl-Based Polymers”
by Tiago Afonso Salgueiro, Rita Carvalho Veloso, João Ventura, Federico Danzi and Joana Oliveira
Batteries 2024, 10(5), 157; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10050157
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/5/157
The global environmental crisis necessitates reliable, sustainable, and safe energy storage solutions. The current systems are nearing their capacity limits due to the reliance on conventional liquid electrolytes, which are fraught with stability and safety concerns, prompting the exploration of solid-state electrolytes, which enable the integration of metal electrodes. Solid-state sodium-ion batteries have emerged as an appealing option due to the abundance, low cost, and sustainability of sodium. However, low ionic conductivity and high interfacial resistance currently prevent their widespread adoption. This study explores polyvinyl-based polymers as wetting agents for the NASICON-type NZSP (Na3Zr2Si2PO12) solid electrolyte, resulting in a combined system with enhanced ionic conductivity suitable for sodium-ion solid-state full cells. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) performed on symmetric cells, employing NZSP paired with different wetting agent compositions, demonstrates a significant reduction in interfacial resistance with the use of poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc)-based polymers, achieving an impressive ionic conductivity of 1.31 mS cm−1 at room temperature, 63.8% higher than the pristine material, and notably reaching 7.36 mS cm−1 at 90 °C. These results offer valuable insights into the potential of PVAc-based polymers for advancing high-performance solid-state sodium-ion batteries by reducing their total internal resistance.
6. “On the Use of Randomly Selected Partial Charges to Predict Battery State of Health”
by Søren B. Vilsen and Daniel-Ioan Stroe
Batteries 2024, 10(6), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10060193
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/6/193
As society becomes more reliant on Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, state-of-health (SOH) estimation will need to become more accurate and reliable. Therefore, SOH modeling is in the process of shifting from using simple and continuous charge/discharge profiles to more dynamic profiles constructed to mimic real operation when aging the Li-ion batteries. However, in most cases, when aging the batteries, the same profile is just repeated until the battery reaches its end of life. Using data from batteries aged in this fashion to create a model, there is a very real possibility that the model will rely on the built-in repetitiveness of the profile. Therefore, this work will examine the dependence of the performance of multiple linear regression on the number of charges used to train the model, as well as their location within the profile used to age the batteries. The investigation shows that it is possible to train models using randomly selected partial charges while still reaching errors as low as 0.5%. Furthermore, it shows that only one randomly sampled partial charge is needed to achieve errors smaller than 1%. Lastly, as the number of randomly sampled partial charges used to train the model increases, the dependence on particular partial charges tends to decrease.
7. “Utilizing Electronic Resistance Measurement for Tailoring Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode Formulations”
by Christoph Seidl, Sören Thieme, Martin Frey, Kristian Nikolowski and Alexander Michaelis
Batteries 2024, 10(7), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10070227
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/7/227
Cathode formulation, which describes the amount of cathode active material (CAM), conductive additives (CAs), and binders within a cathode compound, is decisive for the performance metrics of lithium-ion battery (LIB) cells. The direct measurement of electronic resistance can be an enabler for more time- and cost-efficient cathode formulation improvements. Within this work, we correlate the electronic resistance with the electrochemical performance of cathodes. Two different high-nickel NCM cathode materials and numerous CAs are used to validate the findings. A detailed look into the resistance reduction potential of carbon black (CB) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and their mixtures is carried out. Finally, an impact estimation of cathode formulation changes on LIB key performance factors, such as energy density and cost, is shown.
8. “Binders for Li-Ion Battery Technologies and Beyond: A Comprehensive Review”
by Muskan Srivastava, Anil Kumar M. R. and Karim Zaghib
Batteries 2024, 10(8), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10080268
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/8/268
The effects of global warming highlight the urgent need for effective solutions to this problem. The electrification of society, which occurs through the widespread adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), is a critical strategy to combat climate change. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are vital components of the global energy storage market for EVs, and sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have gained renewed interest due to their potential for rapid growth. Improved safety and stability have also put solid-state batteries (SSBs) on the chart of top batteries in the world. This review examines the following three critical battery technologies: LIBs, SIBs, and SSBs. Although research has historically concentrated on heavier battery components, such as electrodes, to achieve high gravimetric density, binders, which comprise less than 5% of the battery weight, have demonstrated great promise for meeting the increasing need for energy storage. This review thoroughly explores various binders, focusing on their solubilities in water and organic solvents. Understanding binder mechanisms is crucial for developing binders that maintain a strong adhesion to electrodes, even during volume fluctuations caused by lithiation and delithiation. Therefore, we investigated the different mechanisms associated with binders. This review also discusses failure mechanisms and innovative design strategies to improve the performance of binders, such as composite, conductive, and self-healing binders. By investigating these fields, we hope to develop energy storage technologies that are more dependable and efficient while also helping to satisfy future energy needs.
9. “Second-Life Assessment of Commercial LiFePO4 Batteries Retired from EVs”
by Zhi Cao, Wei Gao, Yuhong Fu, Christopher Turchiano, Naser Vosoughi Kurdk, Jing Gu and Chris Mi
Batteries 2024, 10(9), 306; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10090306
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/9/306
LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries are well known for their long cycle life. However, there have been many reports of significant capacity degradation in LFP battery packs after only three to five years of operation. This study assesses the second-life potential of commercial LFP batteries retired from electric vehicles (EVs) by evaluating their aging characteristics at the cell and module levels. Four LFP cells and four modules were subjected to aging tests under various conditions. The results indicate that LFP cells exhibit long life cycles with gradual capacity degradation and minimal internal resistance increase. Module-level analysis reveals significant balance issues which impact capacity recovery. Incremental capacity analysis (ICA) and post-mortem analysis identify the loss of active materials and lithium inventory as key aging mechanisms. This study provides the optimal working conditions for LFP batteries and suggests that, with proper balancing systems, LFP batteries can achieve extended second-life use in stationary energy storage applications, emphasizing the importance of effective balance management for sustainable battery utilization.
10. “Impact of Laser Ablation Strategies on Electrochemical Performances of 3D Batteries Containing Aqueous Acid Processed Li(Ni0.6Mn0.2Co0.2)O2 Cathodes with High Mass Loading”
by Penghui Zhu, Yannic Sterzl and Wilhelm Pfleging
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 354; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100354
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/10/354
Lithium-ion batteries are currently one of the most important energy storage devices for various applications. However, it remains a great challenge to achieve both high energy density and high power density while reducing production costs. Cells with three-dimensional electrodes realized by laser ablation have been proven to have enhanced electrochemical performance compared to those with conventional two-dimensional electrodes, especially at fast charging/discharging. Nevertheless, the laser structuring of electrodes is still limited in terms of the achievable processing speed, and the upscaling of the laser structuring process is of great importance to gain a high technology readiness level. In the presented research, the impact of different laser structuring strategies on the electrochemical performance was investigated on aqueous processed Li(Ni0.6Mn0.2Co0.2)O2 cathodes with acid addition during the slurry mixing process. Rate capability analyses of cells with laser-structured aqueous processed electrodes exhibited enhanced performance, with capacity increases of up to 60 mAh/g at high current density, while a 65% decrease in ionic resistance was observed for cells with laser-structured electrodes. In addition, pouch cells with laser-structured acid-added electrodes maintained 29–38% higher cell capacity after 500 cycles, and their end of life was extended by a factor of about four, in contrast with the reference cells with two-dimensional electrodes containing common organic solvent-processed polyvinylidene fluoride binder.
11. “Transformations of Critical Lithium Ores to Battery-Grade Materials: From Mine to Precursors”
by Sabbir Ahmed, Anil Kumar Madikere Raghunatha Reddy and Karim Zaghib
Batteries 2024, 10(11), 379; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10110379
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/11/379
The escalating demand for lithium has intensified the need to process critical lithium ores into battery-grade materials efficiently. This review paper provides an overview of the transformation processes and cost of converting critical lithium ores, primarily spodumene and brine, into high-purity battery-grade precursors. We systematically examine the study findings on various approaches for lithium recovery from spodumene and brine. Dense media separation (DMS) and froth flotation are the most often used processes for spodumene beneficiation. Magnetic separation (MS) and ore gravity concentration techniques in spodumene processing are also considered. To produce battery-grade lithium salts, the beneficiated, concentrated spodumene must be treated further, with or without heat, in the presence of acidic or alkaline media. As a result, various pyro and hydrometallurgical techniques are explored. Moreover, the process of extracting lithium from brine through precipitation, liquid–liquid extraction, and polymer inclusion membrane separation employing different organic, inorganic, and composite polymer sorbents is also reviewed.
12. “Experimental Research on the Ignition Characteristics and Inhibition Strategy for Venting Emissions Mixture of Failure LiFePO4 Battery”
by Yan Wang, Zhaozhi Zhang, Ruiguang Yu, Yalun Li, Hewu Wang, Languang, Xuning Feng and Minggao Ouyang
Batteries 2024, 10(12), 423; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10120423
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/12/423
When the concentration of a gas is below its lower flammable limit and the content of a liquid is below its minimum explosible concentration, their combined fuel mixture can be ignitable. The flammability characteristics and inhibition strategies for battery emission mixtures deserve further in-depth research attention. This article presents experimental research on the ignition characteristics and inhibition strategy for a venting emission mixture of a failed LiFePO4 battery. By identifying the components of venting emissions, ignition experiments for gases, electrolyte mist, their combination fuels, and mixtures with additives can be performed to determine the flammable parameters, including ignition sensitivity and severity. The hybrid combination of non-flammable venting gases and electrolyte mist has the potential to induce ignition. However, there still exists a non-ignition region, where the gas concentration ratio (mg) is below 0.15 and the liquid concentration ratio (ml) is below 0.1. The following safety design principle can be proposed: increasing ignition temperature, prolonging ignition time, and reducing maximum pressure. Adhering to this principle, a non-flammable electrolyte consisting of 1 mol LiPF6 in EC:DEC = 1:1 vol%, with FEC at 10% and VC at 1%, can be considered as an optimization strategy. In comparison to the original gas–liquid mixtures, the region where no ignition occurs becomes wider when the mg is below 0.45 and the ml is below 0.3. The new two-phase mixture has an ignition temperature of 835 °C, which is 50% higher than that of the original mixture. Overall, this experimental research demonstrates an innovative methodology for assessing the venting emission mixture safety of the battery while proposing a design principle for modifying non-flammable electrolyte functional materials. Consequently, these findings can contribute to formulating more suitable preventive and protective measures for commercial electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems’ thermal safety designs.
12 February 2025
Batteries | Notable Papers Published in 2024 (Volume 10, Issue 10)
We are delighted to present 10 selected papers published in Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105) Volume 10, Issue 10. These high-quality papers cover a wide range of topics, including Li-S batteries, battery modelling, lithium-ion batteries, battery health prediction, solid-state batteries, supercapacitors, and sodium-ion batteries, to name a few. We hope you will find something of interest among these exceptional publications.
1. “Operando Fabricated Quasi-Solid-State Electrolyte Hinders Polysulfide Shuttles in an Advanced Li-S Battery”
by Sayan Das, Krish Naresh Gupta, Austin Choi and Vilas Pol
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 349; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100349
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/10/349
2. “Modelling of a Cylindrical Battery Mechanical Behavior under Compression Load”
by Adrian Daniel Muresanu and Mircea Cristian Dudescu
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 353; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100353
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/10/353
3. “Impact of Laser Ablation Strategies on Electrochemical Performances of 3D Batteries Containing Aqueous Acid Processed Li(Ni0.6Mn0.2Co0.2)O2 Cathodes with High Mass Loading”
by Penghui Zhu, Yannic Sterzl and Wilhelm Pfleging
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 354; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100354
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/10/354
4. “In Operando Health Monitoring for Lithium-Ion Batteries in Electric Propulsion Using Deep Learning”
by Jaya Vikeswara Rao Vajja, Alexey Serov, Meghana Sudarshan, Mahavir Singh and Vikas Tomar
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 355; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100355
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/10/355
5. “Evaluation of Advances in Battery Health Prediction for Electric Vehicles from Traditional Linear Filters to Latest Machine Learning Approaches”
by Adrienn Dineva
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 356; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100356
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/10/356
6. “Si3N4-Assisted Densification Sintering of Na3Zr2Si2PO12 Ceramic Electrolyte toward Solid-State Sodium Metal Batteries”
by Wenwen Sun, Yang Li, Chen Sun, Zheng Sun, Haibo Jin and Yongjie Zhao
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100359
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/10/359
7. “Surfactant-Assisted NiCo2S4 for Redox Supercapacitors”
by Mawuse Amedzo-Adore and Jeong-In Han
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 360; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100360
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/10/360
8. “Effects of Storage Voltage upon Sodium-Ion Batteries”
by Tengfei Song, Brij Kishore, Yazid Lakhdar, Lin Chen, Peter R. Slater and Emma Kendrick
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 361; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100361
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/10/361
9. “Manipulating Electrolyte Interface Chemistry Enables High-Performance TiO2 Anode for Sodium-Ion Batteries”
by Qi Wang, Rui Zhang, Dan Sun, Haiyan Wang and Yougen Tang
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 362; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100362
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/10/362
10. “Garnet-Type Zinc Hexacyanoferrates as Lithium, Sodium, and Potassium Solid Electrolytes”
by Leonhard Karger, Saravanakumar Murugan, Liping Wang, Zhirong Zhao-Karger, Aleksandr Kondrakov, Florian Strauss and Torsten Brezesinski
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 365; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100365
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/10/365
6 February 2025
Batteries | Title Story Articles for the Second Half of 2024
We are delighted to present a list of title story articles selected for display at the top of the Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105) homepage for the second half of 2024. These articles cover a wide range of topics, including lithium-ion batteries, battery thermal management, supercapacitors, solid-state batteries, and li-s batteries, to name a few. We hope you will find something of interest among these exceptional publications.
1. “Secondary High-Temperature Treatment of Porous Carbons for High-Performance Supercapacitors”
by Weihao Chi, Guanwen Wang, Zhipeng Qiu, Qiqi Li, Zheng Xu, Zhiyuan Li, Bin Qi, Ke Cao, Chunlei Chi, Tong Wei et al.
Batteries 2024, 10(1), 5; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10010005
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/1/5
2. “The Next Frontier in Energy Storage: A Game-Changing Guide to Advances in Solid-State Battery Cathodes”
by Abniel Machín and Francisco Márquez
Batteries 2024, 10(1), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10010013
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/1/13
3. “A Freestanding Multifunctional Interlayer Based on Fe/Zn Single Atoms Implanted on a Carbon Nanofiber Membrane for High-Performance Li-S Batteries”
by Mengdi Zhang, Shuoshuo Kong, Bei Chen and Mingbo Wu
Batteries 2024, 10(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10010015
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/1/15
4. “Comparative Issues of Metal-Ion Batteries toward Sustainable Energy Storage: Lithium vs. Sodium”
by Atiyeh Nekahi, Mehrdad Dorri, Mina Rezaei, Mohamed Djihad Bouguern, Anil Kumar Madikere Raghunatha Reddy, Xia Li, Sixu Deng and Karim Zaghib
Batteries 2024, 10(8), 279; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10080279
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/8/279
5. “Advancements and Challenges in Perovskite-Based Photo-Induced Rechargeable Batteries and Supercapacitors: A Comparative Review”
by Anil Kumar M. R., Atiyeh Nekahi, Mohamed Djihad Bouguern, Dongling Ma and Karim Zaghib
Batteries 2024, 10(8), 284; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10080284
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/8/284
6. “Aging in First and Second Life of G/LFP 18650 Cells: Diagnosis and Evolution of the State of Health of the Cell and the Negative Electrode under Cycling”
by William Wheeler, Pascal Venet, Yann Bultel, Ali Sari and Elie Riviere
Batteries 2024, 10(4), 137; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10040137
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/4/137
7. “Aging Mechanism of Mn-Based Prussian Blue Cathode Material by Synchrotron 2D X-ray Fluorescence”
by Mariam Maisuradze, Min Li, Ilaria Carlomagno, Mattia Gaboardi, Giuliana Aquilanti, Jasper Rikkert Plaisier and Marco Giorgetti
Batteries 2024, 10(4), 123; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10040123
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/4/123
8. “Mechanical Measurement Approach to Characterize Venting Behavior during Thermal Runaway of 18650 Format Lithium-Ion Batteries”
by Elisabeth Irene Gillich, Marco Steinhardt, Yaroslava Fedoryshyna and Andreas Jossen
Batteries 2024, 10(4), 142; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10040142
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/4/142
9. “Application of Deep Learning to Optimize Gradient Porosity Profile for Improved Energy Density of Lithium-Ion Batteries”
by Mahshid Nejati Amiri, Odne Stokke Burheim and Jacob Joseph Lamb
Batteries 2024, 10(9), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10090336
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/9/336
10. “Recycling of Lithium-Ion Batteries via Electrochemical Recovery: A Mini-Review”
by Lu Yu, Yaocai Bai and Ilias Belharouak
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100337
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/4/142
11. “On the Stability of the Interface between Li2TiS3 Cathode and Li6PS5Cl Solid State Electrolytes for Battery Applications: A DFT Study”
by Riccardo Rocca, Naiara Leticia Marana, Fabrizio Silveri, Maddalena D’Amore, Eleonora Ascrizzi, Mauro Francesco Sgroi, Nello Li Pira and Anna Maria Ferrari
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100351
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/10/351
12. “Improving the Performance of LiFePO4 Cathodes with a Sulfur-Modified Carbon Layer”
by Su-hyun Kwak and Yong Joon Park
Batteries 2024, 10(10), 348; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10100348
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/10/348
13. “Model-Based Design of LFP Battery Thermal Management System for EV Application”
by Nadjiba Sophy-Mahfoudi, Sai-Vandhan Sekharam, M’hamed Boutaous and Shihe Xin
Batteries 2024, 10(9), 329; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10090329
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/9/329
6 February 2025
Batteries | Title Story Articles for the First Half of 2024
We are delighted to present a list of title story articles selected for display at the top of the Batteries (ISSN: 2313-0105) homepage for the first half of 2024. These articles cover a wide range of topics, including lithium-ion battery electrodes, Li-metal batteries electrolyte and battery thermal management, to name a few. We hope you will find something of interest among these exceptional publications.
1. “Model Development for Binder Migration within Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes during the Drying Process”
by Christiane Zihrul, Mark Lippke and Arno Kwade
Batteries 2023, 9(9), 455; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9090455
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/9/455
2. “Dual-Salts Electrolyte with Fluoroethylene Carbonate Additive for High-Voltage Li-Metal Batteries”
by Zhizhen Qin, Baolin Wu, Dmitri L. Danilov, Rüdiger-A. Eichel and Peter H. L. Notten
Batteries 2023, 9(9), 477; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9090477
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/9/477
3. “Temperature Estimation in Lithium-Ion Cells Assembled in Series-Parallel Circuits Using an Artificial Neural Network Based on Impedance Data”
by Marco Ströbel, Vikneshwara Kumar and Kai Peter Birke
Batteries 2023, 9(9), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9090458
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/9/458
4. “Determination of Lithium-Ion Battery Capacity for Practical Applications”
by Hrvoje Bašić, Vedran Bobanac and Hrvoje Pandžić
Batteries 2023, 9(9), 459; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9090459
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/9/459
5. “Investigating the Production Atmosphere for Sulfide-Based Electrolyte Layers Regarding Occupational Health and Safety”
by Tina Kreher, Patrick Jäger, Fabian Heim and Kai Peter Birke
Batteries 2023, 9(9), 472; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9090472
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/9/472
6. “An Enhanced Single-Particle Model Using a Physics-Informed Neural Network Considering Electrolyte Dynamics for Lithium-Ion Batteries”
by Chenyu Xue, Bo Jiang, Jiangong Zhu, Xuezhe Wei and Haifeng Dai
Batteries 2023, 9(10), 511; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9100511
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/10/511
7. “Scale-Up of Lithium Iron Phosphate Cathodes with High Active Materials Contents for Lithium Ion Cells”
by Geanina Apachitei, Rob Heymer, Michael Lain, Daniela Dogaru, Marc Hidalgo, James Marco and Mark Copley
Batteries 2023, 9(10), 518; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9100518
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/10/518
8. “Gaining a New Technological Readiness Level for Laser-Structured Electrodes in High-Capacity Lithium-Ion Pouch Cells”
by Alexandra Meyer, Penghui Zhu, Anna Smith and Wilhelm Pfleging
Batteries 2023, 9(11), 548; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9110548
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/11/548
9. “Modeling Silicon-Dominant Anodes: Parametrization, Discussion, and Validation of a Newman-Type Model”
by Axel Durdel, Sven Friedrich, Lukas Hüsken and Andreas Jossen
Batteries 2023, 9(11), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9110558
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/11/558
10. “Electrospun Si and Si/C Fiber Anodes for Li-Ion Batteries”
by Abhishek N. Mondal, Ryszard Wycisk, John Waugh and Peter N. Pintauro
Batteries 2023, 9(12), 569; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9120569
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/12/569
11. “Advances in the Separation of Graphite from Lithium Iron Phosphate from End-of-Life Batteries Shredded Fine Fraction Using Simple Froth Flotation”
by Olivier Renier, Andrea Pellini and Jeroen Spooren
Batteries 2023, 9(12), 589; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries9120589
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/9/12/589
12. “The Impact of a Combined Battery Thermal Management and Safety System Utilizing Polymer Mini-Channel Cold Plates on the Thermal Runaway and Its Propagation”
by Henrik-Christian Graichen, Gunar Boye, Jörg Sauerhering, Florian Köhler and Frank Beyrau
Batteries 2024, 10(1), 1; https://doi.org/10.3390/batteries10010001
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2313-0105/10/1/1
5 February 2025
Interview with Dr. Qingsong Wang—Winner of the Batteries 2025 Travel Award
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Name: Dr. Qingsong Wang |
Self-introduction:
My name is Dr. Qingsong Wang, and I graduated with a Ph.D. in material physics and chemistry from the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. I am currently a battery material researcher at the Bavarian Center for Battery Technology (BayBatt), University of Bayreuth, Germany. I am leading an independent group as the Chair of Inorganic Active Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage, specializing in cathode materials for both Li-ion and Na-ion batteries.
The following is an interview with Dr. Qingsong Wang.
1. Could you briefly introduce yourself to our readers and tell us a little bit about your fields of interest?
I am a battery material researcher at the Bavarian Center for Battery Technology (BayBatt), University of Bayreuth, Germany. I am leading an independent group as the Chair of Inorganic Active Materials for Electrochemical Energy Storage, specializing in cathode materials for both Li-ion and Na-ion batteries. I have a Ph.D. degree in material physics and chemistry from the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. My current research primarily focuses on understanding and optimizing disordered rock salt cathodes for Li-ion batteries and layered oxide cathodes for Na-ion batteries, particularly through high-configurational-entropy strategies and the exploration of anionic redox reactions. These approaches aim to improve the capacity and energy density of cathodes, which are crucial for the development of high-performance next-generation batteries. Ultimately, my research seeks to design cathode materials that leverage both cationic and anionic redox processes to overcome current capacity limitations.
2. How does it feel to receive this recognition for your work? Where did you obtain information on how to apply for this award?
It is a great honor to receive this award, given the growing importance of battery research in the field of energy storage. This recognition affirms the relevance and potential impact of my research in the development of sustainable battery technologies. I feel happy about it. I received the call information for this award via an email from the Batteries Editorial Office.
3. Have you promoted the journal at a conference? Apart from conferences, what are your preferred avenues for promoting Batteries within your community?
I will promote it at my next conferences in Germany and in the U.S. and am delighted to spread this news. Apart from conferences, I think university networks and social media platforms help in reaching out to the larger scientific community.
4. How did winning this award impact your career, and what do you hope to achieve next?
Winning this award has had a significant impact on my career and has also strengthened my confidence in pursuing ambitious goals. It has provided me with an opportunity to attend international conferences, opening up new opportunities for collaboration and networking.
5. What is the secret to a happy scientific life? Have you ever encountered any difficulties in conducting research and how did you overcome them?
The key to a happy scientific life is curiosity, persistence, and collaboration. Like many researchers, I have faced challenges such as inconclusive experimental results or computational limitations. Overcoming these difficulties involved seeking guidance from colleagues, staying resilient, and adopting innovative approaches to problem-solving. Celebrating small milestones along the way also helps maintain motivation.
6. What is your opinion of the open access model of publishing?
I strongly support open access publishing. In this era of big data, making data and research more accessible to the global community will undoubtedly enable large-scale analysis, enhance reproducibility, and ultimately accelerate scientific progress.
7. Do you have any advice for aspiring young researchers looking to make a meaningful impact in their respective fields?
For me, making a meaningful impact is about being recognized while enjoying a fulfilling scientific journey. My advice is to stay curious, embrace interdisciplinary approaches, and remain open to learning from others. Building a strong network of collaborators and mentors is invaluable. Above all, persistence and passion for your work are key to overcoming challenges and having a meaningful impact.
8. Could you share your vision for the future of your research and the contributions you aspire to make in the field of Batteries?
My vision is to establish a comprehensive material design strategy that optimizes the synergy between cationic and anionic redox reactions for high-performance cathode materials. By addressing the current capacity limits and enhancing the energy density, I hope to contribute to the development of batteries that are not only efficient but also environmentally sustainable.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to my mentors, collaborators, and students at BayBatt. Their guidance and support have been instrumental in my journey. I am also grateful to the organizers of this award and the selection committee for recognizing my work and providing me with this incredible opportunity.
5 February 2025
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #20 - Beijing, Singapore, Bangkok, JAMS, Jisc
Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
2024 Annual Meeting – Beijing (15 January 2025)
You haven’t truly experienced a New Year’s celebration until you’ve attended one of MDPI’s Chinese Annual Meeting festivities. This year I visited our annual meeting in Beijing, held on the 15th of January.
Imagine this: stepping into a banquet hall filled with 140 tables and about 1,400 colleagues from our Beijing offices, all gathered to share in a six-hour event. The agenda included year-end speeches and presentations, a variety of performances by our colleagues, a selection of awards honouring local employees for their work, group photos for the memories, and a dinner.
This may have been one of the largest events I have attended. For those unaccustomed to such an event, it might seem overwhelming, but it was quite the opposite. The atmosphere was one of celebration as everyone came together to support their peers and celebrate the achievements of 2024.
I was honoured to deliver the opening speech and a presentation highlighting our growth and investment in MDPI’s most valuable asset: our people.
“Our editorial teams represent MDPI at its finest”
I want to give special recognition to the editorial department, across all of our offices, which forms the heart of our business. These teams are the frontline communicators with our authors, reviewers, and guest editors, creating a smooth experience of processing our manuscripts. Their professionalism and kindness are often highlighted as key drivers of satisfaction with MDPI. For this, I extend my deepest gratitude to all our editorial staff, across every office. They truly represent MDPI at its finest.
Beijing is home to two of our offices, with just over 800 employees in Tongzhou and over 600 in Haidian. Thank you to our administrative teams and everyone involved in organizing these New Year’s celebrations across all offices. These events provide a moment to reflect on our shared accomplishments and appreciate the positive impact each of you has on our culture.
MDPI Offices in China
While the history of MDPI begins in Basel, Switzerland, the story of MDPI is very much rooted in China. Below is a list of MDPI’s current offices in China and their respective dates of inauguration:
- 2008: Beijing (Tongzhou, Haidian)
- 2013: Wuhan (Hankou, Guanggu)
- 2019: Tianjin
- 2021: Dalian
- 2021: Nanjing
To date, over 381,000 MDPI research articles have been published by authors affiliated with Chinese institutions, making China our largest market. This is reflected not only in the volume of publications but also in the scale of our workforce supporting local operations and contributing to global success.
While no new offices in China were launched between 2022 and 2024 due to the pandemic and strategic planning, we remain committed to future growth here. Our plans include expanding operations as we continue to build our global workforce.
We look forward to a year filled with continued collaboration, growth, and shared success.
“We remain committed to future growth in China”
Impactful Research
MDPI and Jisc Consortium Extend Open Access Agreement for 2025
I’m pleased to share that MDPI has extended its agreement with the Jisc consortium in the UK for 2025. This renewal strengthens our partnership with UK institutions and reaffirms our shared commitment to advancing open access publishing.
Jisc is the UK’s not-for-profit digital, data, and technology agency supporting tertiary education, research, and innovation. Through initiatives such as our agreement, Jisc helps institutions access essential digital resources and infrastructure to support researchers. Currently, 62 UK institutions are part of our Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP) through this partnership.
Authors from participating institutions benefit from discounts on article processing charges (APCs), with even greater support for institutions that centrally fund APCs. This helps researchers focus on their work while simplifying the publishing process.
A full list of participating institutions can be found here.
As Becky Castellon, our Institutional Partnerships Manager, puts it: “Extending our agreement with Jisc is a reward for the strong partnership we’ve built with research institutions throughout the UK.”
At MDPI, we are dedicated to making research more accessible while reducing administrative burdens for institutions and authors. Open access publishing is at the heart of what we do, and we’re proud to expand its reach in the UK and beyond.
Inside MDPI
Visit to MDPI's Singapore office
During my January trip to some of our APAC offices, I also had the pleasure of visiting our Singapore office for the first time. It’s exciting to see how much the team has grown, now numbering over 55 staff members, with more joining us in February.
Welcoming and Supporting New Team Members
“Experienced staff play an important role in mentoring new hires”
I had the opportunity to connect with both experienced colleagues and new team members who are currently embarking on their careers. This visit reminded me of what it was like when I was in their shoes. I encourage all of us to engage new colleagues with empathy, as we have all been in their position. By creating a welcoming and supportive environment, we can help them settle in and learn about the corporate world, MDPI and our mission.
Experienced staff play an important role in mentoring and guiding new hires, most of whom are transitioning from academia to their first job. I’m especially grateful to colleagues such as Colin Chen, Alicia Ren, Yu Nwe Soe, Colin Wee, Amy Cham and other senior members who have contributed to shaping the culture and work environment in Singapore.
Building MDPI’s Positive Reputation
During my visit, I spoke with the office staff about the importance of their roles in building a positive reputation that helps create trust in MDPI. I shared how every interaction and communication point contributes to the marketing of MDPI and our journals. I also highlighted the career development opportunities available as MDPI continues to grow.
Connecting with the Singapore Marketing Team
I also spent time connecting directly with the Singapore Marketing team, which has quickly grown to 15 young and ambitious members. They are eager to learn and are actively contributing to our journal and corporate marketing activities. I shared insights into our corporate marketing structure and strategy and look forward to supporting them as they grow.
During the visit, I was joined by my colleague Dr. Constanze Schelhorn, Head of Indexing, who provided training on indexing. This training was greatly appreciated by the local staff.
Meeting with Prof. Dr. Manoj Gupta
Lastly, we had the privilege of meeting Prof. Dr. Manoj Gupta, Editor-in-Chief (EiC) of Technologies since 2016 and Section EiC of Metals.
Prof. Gupta is an active decision-maker for the journal and a great brand ambassador for MDPI.
Prof. Gupta has helped sustainably scale Technologies, which now has a 4.2 Impact Factor and a 6.7 CiteScore, ranking Q1 in the JCR category of Engineering and Q1 in the CiteScore category of Computer Science.
During our meeting, we discussed strategies for Institutional Open Access Partnership agreements and ways to promote MDPI journals in Singapore.
PS. During the visit, we also had the chance to participate in Lo Hei, also known as Yee Sang or the “prosperity toss.” This is a raw fish salad traditionally enjoyed during Chinese New Year and is particularly popular among Chinese communities in Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Everyone gathers around the table as the ingredients are added one by one, and then the salad is mixed together. It was a fun experience to take part in this New Year tradition!
Coming Together for Science
JAMS – Journal & Article Management System
I am excited to announce the official relaunch of JAMS (Journal & Article Management System), one of MDPI’s key initiatives to support academic publishers worldwide.
With this relaunch, JAMS now offers new pricing models and flexible solutions for small-scale journals, commercial publishers, and university presses. We have also redesigned the JAMS website to enhance the user experience.
“JAMS is a testament to our commitment to simplifying the publishing process”
Explore the new website here: jams.pub
It’s also great to see the JAMS team expanding our presence at conferences and on social media to engage more effectively with the academic community.
Recently, Facundo Santomé (Senior Marketing Manager) and Alex Ramos (Senior Marketing Specialist) represented JAMS at the APE 2025 conference in Berlin, highlighting how our platform empowers small and independent publishers to streamline and scale their journal management.
JAMS was built to change that by adapting to the unique requirements of each publisher.
At MDPI, we continually invest in our growth – not only by expanding our operations and staff but also by developing innovative products that serve the academic and publishing community at large. JAMS, with its comprehensive suite of journal management tools, is a testament to our commitment to simplifying the publishing process for our partners.
Imagine a submission system that frees up your time for strategy, innovation, and impactful publishing.
Under the leadership of Silvano Bonfatti (Product Manager, MDPI), the JAMS team has conducted in-depth market research to understand the challenges publishers face: endless administrative tasks, inefficient workflows, and systems that don’t always meet their needs.
If you believe JAMS could benefit any of your network contacts, please share our website. Contact the JAMS team. They are always ready to assist with your publishing needs.
What Sets JAMS Apart?
- Scalability – Whether you're a niche journal or managing thousands of submissions, JAMS grows with you.
- End-to-End Workflow – From submission to peer review and final publication, everything is in one place.
- Automation That Works for You – Say goodbye to chasing reviewers and formatting issues, so that you can focus on quality instead.
- Built by Publishers, for Publishers – JAMS is backed by MDPI’s expertise; we know exactly what it takes to run a journal smoothly.
- Flexible & Fair Pricing – Supporting journals of all sizes, with special rates for non-profits and publishers in the Global South.
Partners Who Already Trust JAMS
If you believe JAMS could benefit any of your network contacts, please share our website. Contact the JAMS team. They are always ready to assist with your publishing needs.
Closing Thoughts
Visit to MDPI's Bangkok office
To conclude my APAC trip, I had the pleasure of visiting our Bangkok office from 22 to 24 January. The office has grown significantly, closing 2024 with a total of 445 colleagues across various departments, including Editorial, Production, Conference, Training, Journal Relationship Specialists (JRS), Managing Editors, and supporting teams in HR, Admin, IT, and Finance.
I would like to praise our Bangkok management team for their excellent work in supporting our growth and creating a positive work environment. Our colleagues here are humble, talented, hardworking, and appreciative of MDPI’s mission.
Thailand was among MDPI’s top 30 markets in 2024 for total publications. With our office in Bangkok, we have an opportunity to further promote open access while supporting local researchers and institutions. This includes open access discounts, author training sessions, conference sponsorships, and other initiatives. We currently have 25 Editorial Board Members (EBMs) from Thailand and will work on expanding this network.
Engaging with Group Leads
“Group leads play an important role in creating a safe, positive environment”
During my visit, I met with our group leads to highlight their crucial role in managing journal performance and mentoring new employees, especially given our increased hiring targets. Many new hires are early in their careers and require training, development, and support. Group leads play an important role in creating a safe, positive environment that fosters professional growth while maintaining MDPI’s reputation for service quality.
To wrap up the session, I added a personal touch by holding the door and giving everyone high-fives – a small gesture to show appreciation, boost morale, and strengthen team spirit. It’s important for our colleagues to feel seen, heard, and valued.
University Visit: King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB)
We also visited King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB) to explore collaboration opportunities.
Our discussions focused on: Institutional Open Access Partnership (IOAP), Author training sessions, Conference sponsorships, Student employment initiatives, and more.
This visit reinforced the importance of building strong relationships with local universities, ensuring we continue to support and engage with the academic community in Thailand.
“My time in Bangkok was productive and inspiring”
My time in Bangkok was productive and inspiring. The senior team has done a great job in growing the office and creating a supportive, high-performing environment. I look forward to seeing continued success from our colleagues in Thailand.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
