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Research on Advanced Energy Materials for Meeting Global Energy Challenges
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Research on Advanced Energy Materials for Meeting Global Energy Challenges

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "D1: Advanced Energy Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2025 | Viewed by 5691

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Krzysztof Jastrzębski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Lodz University of Technology, 1/15 Stefanowskiego Street, 90-537 Łódź, Poland
Interests: materials science; carbon based materials; biomaterial engineering; hydrogen storage
Prof. Dr. Piotr Kula

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Surface Engineering and Heat Treatment, Lodz University of Technology, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
Interests: materials science; nanomaterials; graphene; materials processing equipment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

More and more households in the modern industry are becoming increasingly dependent on energy, with some requiring rising doses of electricity, heat, kinetic energy, etc. Such unconscious energy consumption may be detrimental for our planet. Our civilization still functions mostly on the basis of fossil fuels, but the transition towards more green sources of energy have already been initiated.

Reducing CO2 emissions and introducing variable commercially feasible renewable sources of energy are more effective ways of energy storage, though reducing worldwide energy consumption to prevent energy poverty is the world’s biggest energy problem. Obviously, modern man is continuously coming up with potent ideas to “save the world”, but there is still a long way between the concept, its realization, and market implementation. That bumpy road requires novel materials that can withstand the requirements of GREEN ENERGY. This not only means optimizing existing solutions, but also proposing novel approaches at various advancement levels from computer simulations, from experimental studies to full-scale operations.

The Special Issue, Research on Advanced Energy Materials for Meeting Global Energy Challenges, aims to present research data, reviewing material and case scenarios of planned or conducted implementation processes related to the usage of modern materials towards reducing the world's biggest energy problem.

Potential topics for publication in that issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • carbon-based materials for energy storage;
  • hydrogen storage perspective;
  • composites as energy materials;
  • energy magazines;
  • equipment and technologies towards the implementation of proctological energy production and consumption;
  • ways of overcoming energetic exclusion;
  • reduction in energy loss during transmission;
  • materials used for batteries and capacitors;
  • superconductivity phenomenon;
  • renewable energy;
  • performance analysis;
  • technologies for reducing CO2 emissions;
  • chains of the sustainable production and consumption of energy;
  • industrial scale-up of green energy approaches.

Dr. Krzysztof Jastrzębski
Prof. Dr. Piotr Kula
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. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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.

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 4135 KiB  
Article
High-Performance Perovskite Solar Cells Enabled by Reduced MACl Additives in NMP-Based Solvents
by Junhyuk Gong, Simon MoonGeun Jung and Gyu Min Kim
Energies 2025, 18(10), 2542; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18102542 - 14 May 2025
Viewed by 184
Abstract
Methylammonium chloride (MACl) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is a key additive known to enhance film quality in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-based systems, where an optimal concentration of 50 mol% is typically required. However, alternative solvent systems, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), have shown potential [...] Read more.
Methylammonium chloride (MACl) in perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is a key additive known to enhance film quality in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-based systems, where an optimal concentration of 50 mol% is typically required. However, alternative solvent systems, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), have shown potential to reduce additive concentrations while maintaining high performance. This study explored the NMP/DMF (1:9) solvent system and its impact on MACl optimization. The optimal concentration of MACl in NMP-based systems was reduced to 20–30 mol%, representing a substantial decrease from the 50 mol% typically required in DMSO-based formulations. Films produced under these conditions exhibited superior crystallinity, as evidenced by narrower full-width at half maximum (FWHM) values in X-ray diffraction (XRD), and reduced defect densities. These structural improvements translated into enhanced optoelectronic properties, with devices achieving efficiency exceeding 23%, compared with ~20% for DMSO-based counterparts. Furthermore, the NMP-based system demonstrated improved long-term stability under continuous illumination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Advanced Energy Materials for Meeting Global Energy Challenges)
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19 pages, 6178 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Photoelectrochromic Performance of WO3 Through MoS2 and GO–MoS2 Quantum Dot Doping for Self-Powered Smart Window Application
by Jacinta Akoth Okwako, Seung-Han Song, Sunghyoek Park, Sebastian Waita, Bernard Aduda, Young-Sik Hong and Chi-Hwan Han
Energies 2025, 18(10), 2411; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18102411 - 8 May 2025
Viewed by 258
Abstract
Photoelectrochromic devices, which combine light-induced color change with energy-efficient optical modulation, have attracted significant attention for applications such as smart windows, displays, and optical sensors. However, achieving high optical modulation, fast switching speeds, and long-term stability remains a major challenge. In this study, [...] Read more.
Photoelectrochromic devices, which combine light-induced color change with energy-efficient optical modulation, have attracted significant attention for applications such as smart windows, displays, and optical sensors. However, achieving high optical modulation, fast switching speeds, and long-term stability remains a major challenge. In this study, we explore the structural and photoelectrochromic enhancements in tungsten oxide (WO3) films achieved by doping with molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (MoS2 QDs) and grapheneoxide–molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (GO–MoS2 QDs) for advanced photoelectrochromic devices. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that doping with MoS2 QDs and GO–MoS2 QDs leads to a reduction in the crystallite size of WO3, as evidenced by the broadening and decrease in peak intensity. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) confirmed the presence of characteristic lattice fringes with interplanar spacings of 0.36 nm, 0.43 nm, and 0.34 nm, corresponding to the planes of WO3, MoS2, and graphene. Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) mapping indicated a uniform distribution of tungsten, oxygen, molybdenum, and sulfur, suggesting homogeneous doping throughout the WO3 matrix. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis showed a significant decrease in film thickness from 724.3 nm for pure WO3 to 578.8 nm for MoS2 QD-doped WO3 and 588.7 nm for GO–MoS2 QD-doped WO3, attributed to enhanced packing density and structural reorganization. These structural modifications are expected to enhance photoelectrochromic performance by improving charge transport and mechanical stability. Photoelectrochromic performance analysis showed a significant improvement in optical modulation upon incorporating MoS2 QDs and GO–MoS2 QDs into the WO3 matrix, achieving a coloration depth of 56.69% and 70.28% at 630 nm, respectively, within 10 min of 1.5 AM sun illumination, with more than 90% recovery of the initial transmittance within 7 h in dark conditions. Additionally, device stability was improved by the incorporation of GO–MoS2 QDs into the WO3 layer. The findings demonstrate that incorporating MoS2 QDs and GO–MoS2 QDs effectively modifies the structural properties of WO3, making it a promising material for high-performance photoelectrochromic applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Advanced Energy Materials for Meeting Global Energy Challenges)
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20 pages, 10799 KiB  
Article
New Thermochemical Salt Hydrate System for Energy Storage in Buildings
by Yana Galazutdinova, Ruby-Jean Clark, Said Al-Hallaj, Sumanjeet Kaur and Mohammed Farid
Energies 2024, 17(20), 5228; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17205228 - 21 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1186
Abstract
This paper introduces an innovative design for an “inorganic salt-expanded graphite” composite thermochemical system. The storage unit is made of a perforated, compressed, expanded graphite block impregnated with molten CaCl2∙6H2O; the humid air passes through the holes that allow [...] Read more.
This paper introduces an innovative design for an “inorganic salt-expanded graphite” composite thermochemical system. The storage unit is made of a perforated, compressed, expanded graphite block impregnated with molten CaCl2∙6H2O; the humid air passes through the holes that allow the moisture to diffuse and react with the salt. The prepared block underwent 90 hydration-dehydration cycles. Although most of the performed cycles were carried out with salt overhydration and deliquescence, the treated samples have remained mechanically and thermally stable with no drop in energy density. The volumetric energy density of the composite ranged from 135.5 to 277.6 kWh/m3, depending on airflow rate and absolute humidity. To ensure composite material cycling stability, the energy density of the block was measured during hydration at similar conditions of absolute humidity, inlet temperature, and airflow rate (0.01 kgwater/kgair, 20 °C, 400 l/min). The average energy density at these conditions was sustained at 219 kWh/m3. The block integrity was monitored by visual inspection after removing it from the reactor chamber every few cycles. Both the composite material and its manufacturing process are simple and easy to scale up for future commercialization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Advanced Energy Materials for Meeting Global Energy Challenges)
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12 pages, 4226 KiB  
Article
The Preparation and Properties of a Hydrogen-Sensing Field-Effect Transistor with a Gate of Nanocomposite C-Pd Film
by Piotr Firek, Elżbieta Czerwosz, Halina Wronka, Sławomir Krawczyk, Mirosław Kozłowski, Mariusz Sochacki, Dorota Moszczyńska and Jan Szmidt
Energies 2024, 17(13), 3261; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17133261 - 3 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1323
Abstract
The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effect of a nanostructured C-Pd film deposited in the gate area of a field-effect transistor (FET) with a carbon–palladium composite gate (C-Pd/FET) on the hydrogen-sensing properties of the transistor. The method of preparing a [...] Read more.
The objective of this paper is to evaluate the effect of a nanostructured C-Pd film deposited in the gate area of a field-effect transistor (FET) with a carbon–palladium composite gate (C-Pd/FET) on the hydrogen-sensing properties of the transistor. The method of preparing a field-effect transistor (FET) with a C-Pd film deposited as a gate and the properties of such a transistor and the film itself are presented. The C-Pd film deposited by PVD method on the gate area serves as an active layer. The PVD process was carried out in a dynamic vacuum of 10−5 mbar from two separated sources—one containing fullerenes (C60) and the other containing palladium acetate. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS, EDX) and electrical property studies were used to the characterize C-Pd films and FET/C-Pd structures. SEM observations revealed the topography of C-Pd films and FET/C-Pd transistors. EDS/EDX microanalysis was applied to visualize the arrangement of elements on the studied surfaces. The changes in electrical properties (resistance and relative resistance) due to the presence of hydrogen were studied in a designed and computerized experimental set-up. The enhanced properties of the FET/C-Pd transistor are demonstrated in terms of hydrogen detection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Advanced Energy Materials for Meeting Global Energy Challenges)
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18 pages, 4137 KiB  
Article
Spatial Graphene Structures with Potential for Hydrogen Storage
by Krzysztof Jastrzębski, Marian Cłapa, Łukasz Kaczmarek, Witold Kaczorowski, Anna Sobczyk-Guzenda, Hieronim Szymanowski, Piotr Zawadzki and Piotr Kula
Energies 2024, 17(10), 2240; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17102240 - 7 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1417
Abstract
Spatial graphene is a 3D structure of a 2D material that preserves its main features. Its production can be originated from the water solution of graphene oxide (GO). The main steps of the method include the crosslinking of flakes of graphene via treatment [...] Read more.
Spatial graphene is a 3D structure of a 2D material that preserves its main features. Its production can be originated from the water solution of graphene oxide (GO). The main steps of the method include the crosslinking of flakes of graphene via treatment with hydrazine, followed by the reduction of the pillared graphene oxide (pGO) with hydrogen overpressure at 700 °C, and further decoration with catalytic metal (palladium). Experimental research achieved the formation of reduced pillared graphene oxide (r:pGO), a porous material with a surface area equal to 340 m2/g. The transition from pGO to r:pGO was associated with a 10-fold increase in pore volume and the further reduction of remaining oxides after the action of hydrazine. The open porosity of this material seems ideal for potential applications in the energy industry (for hydrogen storage, in batteries, or in electrochemical and catalytic processes). The hydrogen sorption potential of the spatial graphene-based material decorated with 6 wt.% of palladium reached 0.36 wt.%, over 10 times more than that of pure metal. The potential of this material for industrial use requires further refining of the elaborated procedure, especially concerning the parameters of substrate materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Advanced Energy Materials for Meeting Global Energy Challenges)
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Review

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56 pages, 13495 KiB  
Review
Advancing Electrochemical Energy Storage: A Review of Electrospinning Factors and Their Impact
by Muhammad Kashif, Sadia Rasul, Mohamedazeem M. Mohideen and Yong Liu
Energies 2025, 18(9), 2399; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18092399 - 7 May 2025
Viewed by 246
Abstract
The imperative for sustainable energy has driven the demand for efficient energy storage systems that can harness renewable resources and store surplus energy for off-peak usage. Among the numerous advancements in energy storage technology, polymeric nanofibers have emerged as promising nanomaterials, offering high [...] Read more.
The imperative for sustainable energy has driven the demand for efficient energy storage systems that can harness renewable resources and store surplus energy for off-peak usage. Among the numerous advancements in energy storage technology, polymeric nanofibers have emerged as promising nanomaterials, offering high specific surface areas that facilitate increased charge storage and enhanced energy density, thereby improving electrochemical performance. This review delves into the pivotal role of nanofibers in determining the optimal functionality of energy storage systems. Electrospinning emerged as a facile and cost-effective method for generating nanofibers with customizable nanostructures, making it attractive for energy storage applications. Our comprehensive review article examines the latest developments in electrospun nanofibers for electrochemical storage devices, highlighting their use as separators and electrode materials. We provide an in-depth analysis of their application in various battery technologies, including supercapacitors, lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, potassium-ion batteries, lithium–sulfur batteries, and lithium–oxygen batteries, with a focus on their electrochemical performance. Furthermore, we summarize the diverse fabrication techniques, optimization of key influencing factors, and environmental implications of nanofiber production and their properties. This review aims to offer an inclusive understanding of electrospinning’s role in advancing electrochemical energy storage, providing insights into the factors that drive the performance of these critical materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Advanced Energy Materials for Meeting Global Energy Challenges)
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