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Surface Engineering of Solid-State Electrochemical Systems for Energy Conversion and...
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Surface Engineering of Solid-State Electrochemical Systems for Energy Conversion and Storage

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Engineering for Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 2367

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Luca Vattuone

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
DIFI, Università degli Studi di Genova, Via Dodecaneso 33, Genova, Italy
Interests: adsorption at surfaces and surface reactions; chemistry of 2D materials; XPS; vibrational spectroscopy; energy harvesting at surfaces
Dr. Davide Cademartori

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
DICCA, Università degli Studi di Genova, Via all’Opera Pia 15, 16145 Genova, Italy
Interests: solid oxide cells; physical-based modelling; electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; heterointerfaces

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The quest for high-performance solid-state devices for energy conversion and storage calls for the engineering of their surface properties. This Special Issue foresees scientific contributions on the nano- and micro-scale of material properties, focusing on the surface engineering of solid-state electrochemical systems.

Researchers are invited to submit original articles and reviews covering both experiments and numerical simulations on fuel cells, electrolyzers, batteries, and electrocatalysis, as well as on vibrational energy harvesting. In particular, original works based on mechanistic descriptions of the electrochemical phenomena occurring at the electrode surface and electrode/electrolyte interface are strongly encouraged. This Special Issue also aims at elucidating the microstructure–performance correlation of energy conversion systems, focusing on the understanding of the role of surfaces and interfaces.

The following topics will be addressed:

  • Electrochemistry at surfaces and interfaces;
  • Design optimization of electrode–electrolyte interface for solid-state electrochemical devices;
  • Physical-based and electrochemical modelling;
  • Surface and interface modification by energy deposition techniques;
  • Infiltration and exsolution techniques for the decoration of scaffold walls;
  • Surface and interface engineering by phase inversion and freeze casting methods;
  • Surface science applied to energy harvesting, conversion and storage systems;
  • Experimental methods for the characterization of surfaces of electrochemical interest.

Dr. Luca Vattuone
Dr. Davide Cademartori
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Coatings 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 2600 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.

Keywords

  • surface electrochemistry
  • energy conversion and storage
  • vibrational energy harvesting
  • nano- and micro-surface engineering
  • modeling of electrochemical processes

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1173 KB  
Article
Fast-Charging Failure Mechanism of Na3V2(PO4)3 Cathode and Its Mitigation via Trace Sm3+ Doping
by Zibing Pi, Boyu Xing, Yilin Ma, Bo Mai, Ruixi Chen, Xinfei Wu, Jingni Li, Xue Liu, Dexing Wang, Zhaohui Deng, Hongwei Cai, Jean-Jacques Gaumet and Wen Luo
Coatings 2026, 16(5), 614; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16050614 - 19 May 2026
Abstract
NASICON-type Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) is widely regarded as a promising cathode for sodium-ion batteries owing to its robust three-dimensional framework and high operating voltage (~3.4 V vs. Na+/Na). However, NVP suffers severe capacity degradation under [...] Read more.
NASICON-type Na3V2(PO4)3 (NVP) is widely regarded as a promising cathode for sodium-ion batteries owing to its robust three-dimensional framework and high operating voltage (~3.4 V vs. Na+/Na). However, NVP suffers severe capacity degradation under fast-charging conditions due to its intrinsically low electronic conductivity, which critically impedes its practical deployment. Herein, we systematically investigate the fast-charging failure mechanism of NVP and propose a trace Sm3+ doping strategy (x = 0.03) to address this limitation. Undoped NVP retains only 13.5% and 56.62% of its initial capacity after 1000 cycles at 5000 mA g−1 and 1307 cycles at 2000 mA g−1, respectively. Post-cycling scanning electron microscopy (SEM) reveals extensive crack formation and particle pulverization, providing direct morphological evidence for structural failure. To overcome this, Sm3+-doped Na3V1.97Sm0.03(PO4)3/C (NVPSM) is synthesized via a sol–gel method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms that the NASICON phase is preserved. Raman spectroscopy reveals an improved graphitization degree (ID/IG = 0.97 vs. 1.02 for NVP), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) verifies the V3+ oxidation state and the incorporation of Sm3+. Electrochemically, NVPSM achieves capacity retentions of 60.3% after 2300 cycles at 5000 mA g−1 and 83.89% after 1436 cycles at 2000 mA g−1. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy confirms reduced charge-transfer resistance, and post-cycling SEM shows markedly improved structural integrity. These results demonstrate that trace rare-earth doping effectively mitigates fast-charging-induced structural failure in NVP-based cathodes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Engineering of Solid-State Electrochemical Systems for Energy Conversion and Storage)
13 pages, 2279 KB  
Article
Development of Nickel Electrodes for Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells: Performance Characterization and Optimization of the Manufacturing Process
by Martino Prati, Dario Bove, Roberto Spotorno and Barbara Bosio
Coatings 2026, 16(2), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16020237 - 12 Feb 2026
Viewed by 558
Abstract
The growing need to reduce CO2 emissions and promote the energy transition has driven the development of high-efficiency electrochemical technologies such as Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFCs), which can simultaneously generate electricity and capture CO2. This work focuses on the [...] Read more.
The growing need to reduce CO2 emissions and promote the energy transition has driven the development of high-efficiency electrochemical technologies such as Molten Carbonate Fuel Cells (MCFCs), which can simultaneously generate electricity and capture CO2. This work focuses on the development of nickel electrodes produced by electrodeposition, a technique that enables precise control over the morphology and porosity of the deposited material. The experimental activity mainly investigated the influence of electrical parameters (current density and potential difference) and deposition time on metal film growth, with the aim of optimizing the porous structure and enhancing electrochemical performance. The prepared samples were characterized in terms of mass, thickness, and morphology by scanning electron microscopy, confirming consistency with Faraday’s law. Subsequently, the electrodes were tested in cell stations to evaluate their electrochemical behavior under operating conditions representative of MCFC operation. The results demonstrated that an appropriate combination of electrical parameters and deposition time enables the formation of uniform, porous nickel coatings suitable for electrolyte retention. Electrodeposition thus proved to be an effective and scalable approach for the fabrication of optimized nickel electrodes for molten carbonate fuel cell applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Engineering of Solid-State Electrochemical Systems for Energy Conversion and Storage)
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17 pages, 7529 KB  
Article
Effect of the Ferrite–Austenite Phase Ratio on the Silver Coating Properties of Super Duplex Stainless Steel EN 1.4501 for Li-Ion Battery Cases
by Yelee Paeng, Shinho Kim, Sung-Bo Heo, Seung Hun Lee, Sanghun Lee, Byung-Hyun Shin and Yangdo Kim
Coatings 2025, 15(12), 1423; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15121423 - 4 Dec 2025
Viewed by 775
Abstract
With the growing demand for durable and corrosion-resistant materials in advanced Li-ion battery cases, super duplex stainless steels (SDSSs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their excellent mechanical and electrochemical properties. This study aims to investigate how the ferrite and austenite phase [...] Read more.
With the growing demand for durable and corrosion-resistant materials in advanced Li-ion battery cases, super duplex stainless steels (SDSSs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their excellent mechanical and electrochemical properties. This study aims to investigate how the ferrite and austenite phase balance in SDSS EN 1.4501 affects the microstructural and electrochemical behavior of Ag coatings, tailored for next-generation battery enclosure applications. Ag coatings were deposited to PVD (to 1 μm) on SDSS EN 1.4501 substrates with varying ferrite (from 32 vol.% to 70 vol.%) and austenite ratios (from 56 vol.% to 30 vol.%) to evaluate the influence of phase balance on coating performance. Microstructural analysis was performed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM, mag x 1000), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and X-ray diffraction (XRD, from 20° to 80°), which provided insights into surface morphology, crystallographic texture, and phase distribution. Electrochemical characteristics were assessed through open circuit potential (OCP), and potentiodynamic polarization in a simulated corrosive environment. The results showed that a balanced duplex microstructure promoted superior Ag coating adhesion, grain refinement, and uniform phase distribution. Furthermore, the electrochemical analyses indicated enhanced corrosion resistance and passivation layer stability in volume fraction balanced substrates, as evidenced by more noble OCP values (form −0.06 V to −0.11 V), and potentiodynamic polarization value (higher corrosion potential (from 0.08 V to 0.10 V), and lower corrosion current densities (from 3 × 10−7 A/cm2 to 4 × 10−7 A/cm2)). These findings demonstrate that optimizing the phase balance in SDSS is critical for achieving high-performance Ag coated surfaces, offering significant potential for durable and corrosion-resistant Li ion battery casing applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Engineering of Solid-State Electrochemical Systems for Energy Conversion and Storage)
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20 pages, 11782 KB  
Article
Carbon Microfibers Coated with 3-Methyl-4-Phenylpyrrole for Possible Uses in Energy Storage
by Alexandru Florentin Trandabat, Romeo Cristian Ciobanu and Oliver Daniel Schreiner
Coatings 2025, 15(12), 1420; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15121420 - 4 Dec 2025
Viewed by 355
Abstract
This research examines the electrochemical polymerization of 3-Methyl-4-phenylpyrrole on carbon microfibers and compares its electrode performance with similar structures utilizing Poly-pyrrole and Poly-3-Phenylpyrrole on carbon microfibers. For technological considerations, going beyond a rate of 90 mV/s for the electrochemical deposition of the 3-Methyl-4-phenylpyrrole [...] Read more.
This research examines the electrochemical polymerization of 3-Methyl-4-phenylpyrrole on carbon microfibers and compares its electrode performance with similar structures utilizing Poly-pyrrole and Poly-3-Phenylpyrrole on carbon microfibers. For technological considerations, going beyond a rate of 90 mV/s for the electrochemical deposition of the 3-Methyl-4-phenylpyrrole polymer is not advisable. By examining the Nyquist diagram, it is noted that the highest phase angle, exceeding 80°, occurs for the carbon–polymer structure created at a deposition rate of 70 mV/s, displaying the most pronounced capacitive behavior. Similar results at a deposition rate of 70 mV/s regarding SEM and AFM images were noted, revealing a structure that resembles the shape of the deposited polymer granules as “droplets” with a reduced average roughness level, at under 60 nm, and achieving a layer thickness of over 0.7 μm. Considering the results from cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance, it was observed that the carbon micro-fiber structure coated with 3-Methyl-4-phenylpyrrole polymer shows superior capacitive behavior when compared to similar structures using pyrrole and 3-Phenyl-pyrrole polymers. 3-Methyl-4-phenylpyrrole also showed a lower admittance value than 3-Phenyl-pyrrole, and presented the highest capacitance, leading to a maximum increase of +27.3% in relation to pyrrole, emphasizing the significance of studying this PPy derivative for energy storage applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Engineering of Solid-State Electrochemical Systems for Energy Conversion and Storage)
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