Design, Microstructure, and Mechanisms of Composite Materials for Next-Generation Energy Storage Systems

Dear Colleagues,

The pursuit of lightweight, multifunctional materials with excellent mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties has become a key driving force in materials science over the past few decades. Carbon-based composites, in particular, have demonstrated remarkable potential for energy storage and conversion, owing to their tunable porosity, high surface area, electrical conductivity, and chemical stability. Concurrently, the growing demand for safe, high-energy-density batteries and efficient supercapacitors underscores the urgent need for advanced composite materials that can deliver both superior electrochemical performance and enhanced safety under extreme operating conditions.

Recent research has shown that the rational design of composite architectures—integrating structural carbon materials with metal-based or functionalized components—can effectively bridge the gap between energy density, stability, and mechanical integrity. For instance, heteroatom-doped biomass-derived carbons with hierarchical porosity have exhibited outstanding charge transport and ion accessibility in supercapacitors. Moreover, the DFT-assisted design of Mn-doped α-Ni(OH)₂ layered composites revealed impurity-level formation and bandgap narrowing, enhancing rate capability and life cycle. Advanced characterization techniques such as 2H MAS NMR combined with first-principle calculations have further elucidated the role of Mn⁴⁺ species in stabilizing layered Ni-based structures during electrochemical cycling.

In the field of lithium-ion batteries, composite current collectors and hybrid cathode structures have emerged as promising solutions for improving both electrochemical and mechanical safety. Studies have demonstrated that introducing LFP nanoparticles into NCM811 cathodes can enhance interfacial adhesion, alter short-circuit propagation during nail penetration, and significantly reduce thermal runaway risks. Complementary work on reference electrode design has clarified measurement biases arising from intrinsic electrode heterogeneity and edge effects, leading to new strategies for accurate in situ diagnostics and fast-charging safety enhancement.

These advances collectively illustrate how the processing–structure–property relationships of composite materials can be harnessed to create safer, higher-performance energy systems with a substantial societal impact.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, “Design, Microstructure, and Mechanisms of Composite Materials for Next-Generation Energy Storage Systems,” which aims to explore recent advances in the design, synthesis, and characterization of composite materials for next-generation energy storage devices.

This Special Issue aims to bring together cutting-edge research on advanced carbon- and metal-based composites for energy storage and safety-critical applications. It seeks to highlight the design, synthesis, characterization, and multifunctional performance of composite materials that integrate structural robustness with high electrochemical activity.

In alignment with the scope of the Journal of Composites Science, which emphasizes the development, modeling, and performance evaluation of composite systems, this Special Issue will focus on the interplay between materials design, composite architecture, and practical functionality in the contexts of batteries, supercapacitors, and energy-related devices.

The overarching goal is to promote interdisciplinary dialog and present novel insights into how compositional engineering, interfacial control, and structural optimization can lead to next-generation composites that meet the dual demands of high energy density and intrinsic safety.

Suggested Themes:

• Design and synthesis of carbon- and metal-based composites for electrochemical energy storage.
• Hierarchical porosity engineering and heteroatom doping in carbon materials.
• Interface optimization and defect modulation in Ni- and Mn-based hydroxides or oxides.
• Multifunctional composite current collectors and electrodes for safety enhancement.
• Thermal and mechanical failure mechanisms in battery composites under abuse conditions.

Article Types:

• Original research articles
• Review papers (state-of-the-art overviews or thematic perspectives)

Original research articles and reviews are welcome to be submitted to this Special Issue. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following: composite materials for next-generation energy storage systems; battery safety; and COF-based materials.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Zhiguo Zhang
Dr. Yiding Li
Dr. Jia Chen
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Journal of Composites Science 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 1800 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.