Renewable and Sustainable Energy Materials
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: 16 April 2026 | Viewed by 90
Special Issue Editors
Interests: thermal energy storage; phase change material; microencapsulation technologies; microencapsulated phase change materials; radiative cooling technologies and materials, microfluidics; CFD
Interests: human comfort; human behaviour in buildings; artificial intelligence in building performance; prediction; smart buildings; sustainable energy technologies; energy storage in phase change materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Recent advancements in phase change materials (PCMs), radiative cooling technologies, and advanced thermal energy systems have opened new frontiers in sustainable energy storage, thermal management, and energy-efficient building applications. Driven by the urgent need for carbon neutrality and energy conservation, these innovative materials and technologies play a pivotal role in enhancing thermal regulation, reducing energy consumption, and improving the sustainability of modern infrastructures.
PCMs offer exceptional thermal energy storage capabilities, enabling efficient heat absorption and release for passive temperature control in buildings, electronics, and industrial processes. Meanwhile, radiative cooling materials provide a passive cooling mechanism by emitting thermal radiation to outer space, significantly reducing the reliance on conventional air conditioning systems. Additionally, advanced thermal and renewable energy technologies—such as solar-thermal systems, geothermal integration, and energy-efficient HVAC solutions—continue to push the boundaries of sustainable energy utilization and thermal management.
This Special Issue aims to serve as a platform for cutting-edge research and innovative developments in the following areas:
- Phase Change Materials (PCMs): Novel materials, encapsulation techniques, and applications in thermal energy storage and management for buildings, electronics, and industrial processes.
- Radiative Cooling Materials: Design, fabrication, and real-world applications of radiative cooling coatings and composites for sustainable building cooling.
- Advanced Thermal Energy Technologies: Innovations in solar-thermal energy conversion, geothermal integration, and hybrid thermal management systems.
- Energy-Efficient HVAC Solutions: New materials and system designs to enhance heating, ventilation, and air conditioning efficiency in residential and commercial buildings.
- Multifunctional Thermal Regulation Materials: Hybrid materials combining PCMs, radiative cooling, or thermoelectric properties for adaptive thermal management.
We invite researchers to contribute original research articles, reviews, and case studies that advance the understanding and application of these transformative materials and technologies.
Dr. Weiguang Su
Dr. Tongyu Zhou
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. 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
- renewable energy
- phase change materials
- thermal energy storage and management
- radiative cooling materials
- sustainable buildings
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