Advances in Functional Materials for Lithium Secondary Battery System: Challenge, Opportunities, Solutions and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the development of secondary lithium batteries has demonstrated the potential to create innovative energy solutions using multifunctional materials. Their optimization is important for meeting the demands of the energy and automotive industries. Advanced functional materials, which are crucial to enhancing battery performance, extending service life, and improving safety, have become a focal point of interest in international academia and industry. By integrating these materials with the unique properties of secondary lithium batteries, their inherent limitations can be mitigated and their capabilities can be significantly enhanced. Currently, there is a focus on researching functional materials to develop superior battery technologies for application in the energy storage and transportation sectors. The selection of appropriate material synthesis and integration techniques to ensure the creation of high-quality functional materials is a significant challenge.

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent progress in the field of functional materials and their applications in lithium-ion batteries. The articles presented in this Special Issue will cover various topics, including the preparation, engineering, functionalization, and various applications of these materials. While this Special Issue does not cover every topic in this field, it will offer a unique glimpse of what has been achieved and what remains to be explored regarding the application of functional materials in lithium-ion batteries.

We invite researchers to submit review articles, original papers and communications on, but not limited to, the following topics:

• Electrode Functional Materials and Composites: Structure–Performance Relationships in Secondary Lithium Battery Systems.
• Interfaces and Interphases of Functional Materials in Secondary Lithium Battery Systems: Stability and Regulation.
• Multiscale Modelling, Simulation and Theoretical Studies of Functional Materials in Secondary Lithium Battery Systems.
• AI-Driven Design and Performance Optimization of Functional Materials in Secondary Lithium Battery Systems.
• Safety, Longevity and Performance Improvement Strategies for Functional Materials in Secondary Lithium Battery Systems.
• Key Functional Materials for Solid-State Batteries: Solid Electrolytes and Interface Challenges.
• Green Materials and Sustainable Technologies for Functional Materials in Secondary Lithium Battery Systems.
• Cross-Applications of Novel Functional Materials in Lithium-Ion, Solid-State and Sodium-Ion Batteries.
• Recycling and Regeneration Technologies for Spent Secondary Lithium Battery Systems Comprising Functional Materials.
• Exploration of Functional Materials in Next-Generation Post-Lithium Battery Systems.
• Nanotechnologies in the Development of Functional Materials for Secondary Lithium Battery Systems.
• Graphene, Silicon-Based, and CNT Functional Materials: Development and Applications in Secondary Lithium Battery Systems.
• Generative AI in the Design of Next-Generation Functional Materials for Secondary Lithium Battery Systems.
• Functional Materials for Improving Thermal Management and Mechanical Strength in Secondary Lithium Battery Systems.
• New Developments and Emerging Technologies in Other Functional Materials for Secondary Lithium Battery Systems.

Dr. Jingzheng Weng
Prof. Dr. Minquan Tian
Prof. Dr. Yutaka Moritomo
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. Crystals 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 2100 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.

• functional materials
• crystalline materials
• polymer conductors
• energy materials
• electrode materials
• solid electrolytes
• high-voltage functional materials
• lithium battery
• next-generation post-lithium battery systems