Solid-State Batteries: How Safe Are They?

Dear Colleagues,

Being a revolutionary technology, solid-state batteries (SSBs) have the potential to transform the energy storage sector. Their promising features, such as higher energy density, faster charging, and wider operating temperatures, make them perfect for electric vehicles, electronics, smart grids, and aviation industries. Perhaps the most important advantage is their enhanced safety. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries with flammable liquid electrolytes, solid-state batteries utilize non-flammable solid electrolytes, significantly reducing the risk and threats of fire and explosion.

However, a critical question remains: how safe are solid-state batteries in reality?

This Special Issue of Batteries aims to discover the current state of knowledge regarding solid-state battery safety. We welcome submissions that address the following key areas:

• Fundamental Mechanisms of Safety: Explore the inherent safety advantages of solid electrolytes compared to liquid electrolytes. Investigate how SSBs prevent thermal runaway and mitigate potential failure modes.
• Safety Challenges and Risks: Despite their advantages, recognize and report potential safety concerns associated with SSBs. This may include interfacial instability, dendrite growth, or unforeseen safety issues during manufacturing or operation.
• Safety by Design: Examine strategies for designing inherently safe solid-state batteries. This could involve material selection, electrolyte optimization, or innovative cell architecture.
• Life Cycle Analysis Considerations: Evaluate the safety implications of SSBs throughout their entire life cycle, including manufacturing, operation, recycling, and end-of-life disposal.

We encourage submissions of original research articles, insightful reviews, and thought-provoking opinion pieces.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Mihit H. Parekh
Prof. Dr. Vilas Pol
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Batteries is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• solid-state batteries
• lithium-ion batteries
• electrolyte
• electrodes
• battery management systems
• battery safety
• battery safety modelling
• computation
• thermal safety.