Polymer-Based Smart Gel Electrolytes for Energy Storage
A special issue of Gels (ISSN 2310-2861). This special issue belongs to the section "Gel Analysis and Characterization".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 28
Special Issue Editors
Interests: gel polyelectrolytes; flexible energy storage devices; high-value utilization of coal resources
Interests: printed electronics; flexible electrochemical energy storage; MXene; hydrogels; 3D printing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Polymer-based smart gel electrolytes represent a transformative advancement in energy storage technologies, combining the flexibility and processability of polymers with the tunable ionic conductivity and stimuli-responsive behavior of gel systems. This Special Issue, "Polymer-Based Smart Gel Electrolytes for Energy Storage", focuses on the design, synthesis, and application of these functional materials in next-generation batteries, supercapacitors, and hybrid energy storage devices. Key topics include innovative polymer architectures (e.g., crosslinked networks, block copolymers, and nanocomposite gels), ion transport mechanisms, and smart functionalities (such as self-healing capabilities, thermal/electrochemical stability, and adaptive conductivity under mechanical or environmental stimuli).
Contributions will explore advanced characterization techniques, computational modeling, and performance optimization strategies to enhance the energy density, cycle life, and safety of energy storage systems. Special emphasis is placed on sustainable and scalable fabrication methods, as well as integration with emerging battery technologies (e.g., solid-state, lithium–sulfur, and flexible electronics). Challenges such as interfacial stability, electrolyte–electrode compatibility, and long-term durability under operational conditions will also be addressed.
We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives on cutting-edge developments in smart gel electrolytes, aiming to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among chemists, materials scientists, and engineers. This Special Issue seeks to accelerate the translation of lab-scale innovations into practical energy storage solutions for a sustainable future.
Dr. Yun Tan
Prof. Dr. Yi-Zhou Zhang
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. Gels 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.
Keywords
- polymer-based smart gel electrolytes
- energy storage
- batteries
- supercapacitors
- crosslinked networks
- block copolymers
- nanocomposite gels
- self-healing
- thermal/electrochemical
- adaptive conductivity
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