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Advanced Thin Film Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage Applications
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Advanced Thin Film Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage Applications

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 April 2025) | Viewed by 2630

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Haochun Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Energy Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
Interests: thermal metamaterial; advanced optoelectronic materials and devices; nuclear technology; thermofluids engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jian Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
1. School of Energy Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
2. Yangtze Delta Region Academy of Beijing Institute of Technology (Jiaxing), Jiaxing 314019, China
Interests: energy; thermal properties; energy storage; thermal conductivity; heat transfer

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to the increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly energy conversion and storage applications, including fuel cells, batteries, solar cells, thermal energy storage, and thermoelectric generators, etc., the research and development of cost-effective and efficient materials are essential for the sustainable development of energy and power applications.

Thin film materials used in energy conversion and storage provide opportunities to improve the performance, density, and transportation of renewable resources.

This Special Issue on “Advanced Thin Film Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage Applications” aims to present the current state of the art and identify future prospects in the research, design, and application of advanced energy materials. This Special Issue aims to focus on the advances in this attractive field of research, encouraging a multidisciplinary approach to the subject.

It is our pleasure to invite you to submit your work to this Special Issue. Research papers, reviews, and communications are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Haochun Zhang
Guest Editor

Dr. Jian Zhang
Guest Editor Assistant

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. Materials 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.

Keywords

  • thin film materials
  • functional energy materials
  • silicon film
  • energy conversion and storage devices
  • energy conversion and storage mechanisms

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 6761 KiB  
Article
Interplay of Temperature-Induced Modification in Niobium Oxide Thin Films for Electrochromic Advancements
by Rutuja U. Amate, Pritam J. Morankar, Namita A. Ahir and Chan-Wook Jeon
Materials 2025, 18(6), 1264; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18061264 - 13 Mar 2025
Viewed by 427
Abstract
Niobium oxide (Nb2O5) is a compelling preference for electrochromic (EC) applications due to its remarkable optical modulation, chemical resilience, and efficient charge accommodation. This study attentively explores the influence of reaction temperature on the structural, morphological, and EC characteristics [...] Read more.
Niobium oxide (Nb2O5) is a compelling preference for electrochromic (EC) applications due to its remarkable optical modulation, chemical resilience, and efficient charge accommodation. This study attentively explores the influence of reaction temperature on the structural, morphological, and EC characteristics of Nb2O5 thin films synthesized via a hydrothermal approach. Reaction temperatures spanning 140 °C to 200 °C were optimized to unravel their pivotal role in dictating material properties and device performance. Field-emission scanning electron microscopy elucidates significant morphological transformations, transitioning from agglomerated, cracked structures at lower temperatures to well-defined, porous architectures at optimal conditions, followed by a re-compaction of the surface at elevated temperatures. Electrochemical analysis established a strong correlation between thermal-induced structural refinements and enhanced EC performance metrics. The optimized N-180 thin films exhibit enhanced charge injection dynamics, improved coloration efficiency of 81.33 cm2/C, and superior optical modulation of 74.13% at 600 nm. The device fabricated with the most favorable film demonstrated significant optical contrast and long-term stability, reinforcing its practical viability for smart window and energy-efficient applications. This study pioneers a comprehensive understanding of the thermal modulation of Nb2O5 thin films, providing new insights into the interplay between reaction temperature and material functionality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Thin Film Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage Applications)
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11 pages, 1999 KiB  
Article
Giant Seebeck Effect in a PEDOT Material Coated on a Felt Fiber
by Hideki Arimatsu, Yuki Osada, Ryo Takagi and Takuya Fujima
Materials 2025, 18(4), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18040838 - 14 Feb 2025
Viewed by 472
Abstract
Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) has been extensively investigated not only as a conductive polymer but also as a promising thermoelectric material. Numerous efforts have been undertaken to enhance the thermoelectric performance, particularly because improving the Seebeck coefficient is crucial for practical applications. In this study, [...] Read more.
Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) has been extensively investigated not only as a conductive polymer but also as a promising thermoelectric material. Numerous efforts have been undertaken to enhance the thermoelectric performance, particularly because improving the Seebeck coefficient is crucial for practical applications. In this study, we explored the thermoelectric property modification of PEDOT using a low-molecular carrier dopant and a fibrous substrate. PEDOT was coated on a felt texture with p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) as the carrier dopant. The thermoelectric properties, including the Seebeck coefficient and electric conductivity, were measured. Raman spectroscopy was used to characterize the molecular strain of the PEDOT. The PEDOT sample coated on a felt texture with PTSA exhibited a wide range of Seebeck coefficients (−2100 to 3100 μV K−1). An estimation suggested the power factor reached 2400 µW m−1 K−2 for the p-type and 1100 µW m−1 K−2 for the n-type at the maxima. Raman spectroscopy showed a strong correlation between the strain in the Cβ-Cβ bond of the PEDOT molecule and its Seebeck coefficient. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Thin Film Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage Applications)
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12 pages, 3396 KiB  
Article
A Strategy for Fabricating Ultra-Flexible Thermoelectric Films Using Ag2Se-Based Ink
by Yunhuan Yuan, Chaogang Ding, Rui Yin, Shun Lu, Jie Xu, Wei Ren, Kang Li and Weiwei Zhao
Materials 2024, 17(15), 3784; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17153784 - 1 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1104
Abstract
Flexible thermoelectric materials have drawn significant attention from researchers due to their potential applications in wearable electronics and the Internet of Things. Despite many reports on these materials, it remains a significant challenge to develop cost-effective methods for large-scale, patterned fabrication of materials [...] Read more.
Flexible thermoelectric materials have drawn significant attention from researchers due to their potential applications in wearable electronics and the Internet of Things. Despite many reports on these materials, it remains a significant challenge to develop cost-effective methods for large-scale, patterned fabrication of materials that exhibit both excellent thermoelectric performance and remarkable flexibility. In this study, we have developed an Ag2Se-based ink with excellent printability that can be used to fabricate flexible thermoelectric films by screen printing and low-temperature sintering. The printed films exhibit a Seebeck coefficient of −161 μV/K and a power factor of 3250.9 μW/m·K2 at 400 K. Moreover, the films demonstrate remarkable flexibility, showing minimal changes in resistance after being bent 5000 times at a radius of 5 mm. Overall, this research offers a new opportunity for the large-scale patterned production of flexible thermoelectric films. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Thin Film Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage Applications)
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