Advanced Research in Lithium-Ion Battery Materials
A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials for Energy Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 24
Special Issue Editor
Interests: electron microscopy; crystals; ceramics; phase transformation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Lithium-ion batteries are at the "heart" of modern electronic and transportation technologies, powering everything from portable electronics to electric vehicles. However, with the ever-growing demand for higher energy density, enhanced safety, and longer lifetimes, conventional lithium-ion systems are increasingly approaching their intrinsic limitations. To break through these limitations, lithium metal batteries have emerged as a promising alternative, offering the highest theoretical specific capacity. Yet, formidable challenges remain, including uncontrolled dendrite growth, low Coulombic Efficiency, unstable SEI, dead lithium, etc. In this regard, rational electrolyte design and advanced lithium anode protection strategies have become critical for enabling practical and durable lithium metal anodes.
On the cathode side, Ni-rich layered oxides remain the most viable candidates to drive further energy density improvements; however, their structural instability and surface reactivity continue to present serious challenges. At the same time, solid-state batteries, which rely on exploring high-performance solid electrolytes and achieving fast ion transport and stable electrode–electrolyte interfaces, offer another alternative pathway toward both enhancing safety and surpassing the energy density limits of traditional systems.
In addition to materials research, there is also a role for advanced characterization techniques to provide fundamental insights into electrochemical mechanisms. Emerging in situ and operando approaches, together with computational modelling, are increasingly indispensable for unravelling the complex interfacial reactions, transport behaviours, and degradation pathways that dictate battery performance and reliability.
With this Special Issue, we aim to provide a timely platform to showcase cutting-edge research on lithium metal anodes, electrolyte innovations, solid-state batteries, and cathode stabilization, alongside the development of novel characterization methodologies. By fostering cross-disciplinary dialogue and highlighting mechanistic understanding, we aspire to accelerate progress toward safer, higher energy density electrochemical energy storage systems that will underpin the next generation of sustainable technologies.
Dr. Jiancun Rao
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- lithium metal anodes
- electrolyte design solid-state batteries
- cathode stabilization
- novel characterization methodologies
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