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Advances in Smart Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 February 2024) | Viewed by 7697

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Kun Zheng

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Hydrogen Energy, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
2. AGH Centre of Energy, AGH University of Science and Technology, ul. Czarnowiejska 36, 30-054 Krakow, Poland
Interests: materials for SOFCs, PCFCs and high-temperature ceramic electrolyzers; oxygen storage materials; oxygen separation ceramic membranes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Min Chen

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Guest Editor

1. Guangdong Key Laboratory for Hydrogen Energy Technologies, Foshan 528000, China
2. School of Materials Science and Hydrogen Energy, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, China
Interests: functional oxides for clean energy technologies: fuel cells, gas separation membranes and electrolyzers; ferroelectric materials; interface for solid-state electrochemical devices

Dr. Piotr Winiarz

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Guest Editor

Department of Hydrogen Energy, Faculty of Energy and Fuels, AGH University of Science and Technology, al. A. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland
Interests: solid oxide cells; protonic conductivity; strain engineering

Dr. Jie Luo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Materials Science and Energy Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan 528000, China
Interests: ceramic/polymer nanofiber membranes for SOFCs; photocatalysts and adsorption; regenerated natural materials

Prof. Dr. Kezhen Qi

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Guest Editor

College of Pharmacy, Dali University, Dali 671000, China
Interests: developing photocatalysts for water splitting; CO₂ reduction and degradation of organic pollutants; using DFT calculations to study the reaction mechanism of heterogeneous catalytic process; using ionic liquids to control synthesis of nanocrystals with desired morphologies
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The trending approach to extending the employment of green and renewable energy brings together the scientific community and forces scientists around the world to search for better solutions to meet the significant increase in global energy demand, which is critical for achieving a better and more sustainable future. However, finding efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solutions is still challenging. By connecting materials science with related branches of science, the development in the area of materials for energy storage and conversion is accelerating.

This Special Issue of Materials covers topics that combine both experimental and theoretical work in the field of smart materials for energy storage and energy conversion. In this Special Issue, both original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include but are not limited to the following:

Materials for fuel cells and electrolyzer cells;
Oxygen storage materials;
Mixed ionic–electronic conductors;
Triple-conducting oxides;
Synthesis optimization for obtaining nanomaterials;
Materials for energy harvesting;
DFT modeling and calculations for materials;
Photocatalysts for application in the fields of environment and energy, such as water splitting, CO₂ reduction, and pollutant degradation.

Prof. Dr. Kun Zheng
Prof. Dr. Min Chen
Dr. Piotr Winiarz
Dr. Jie Luo
Prof. Dr. Kezhen Qi
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. 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

fuel cells
electrolyzers
oxygen storage
MIEC
triple-conducting oxides
synthesis optimization
energy harvesting
DFT modeling and calculations

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 8041 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tuning Cu-Content La_1−xSr_xNi_1−yCu_yO_3−δ with Strontium Doping as Cobalt-Free Cathode Materials for High-Performance Anode-Supported IT-SOFCs

by Jakub Lach, Kun Zheng, Ryszard Kluczowski, Anna Niemczyk, Hailei Zhao and Min Chen

Materials 2022, 15(24), 8737; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma15248737 - 07 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1626

Abstract

Cu-content La_1−xSr_xNi_1−yCu_yO_3−δ perovskites with A-site strontium doping have been tuned as cobalt-free cathode materials for high-performance anode-supported SOFCs, working at an intermediate-temperature range. All obtained oxides belong to the R-3c trigonal system, and phase transitions from the R-3c space group to a Pm-3m simple perovskite have been observed by HT-XRD studies. The substitution of lanthanum with strontium lowers the phase transition temperature, while increasing the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) and oxygen non-stoichiometry δ of the studied materials. The thermal expansion is anisotropic, and TEC values are similar to commonly used solid electrolytes (e.g., 14.1 × 10⁻⁶ K⁻¹ for La_0.95Sr_0.05Ni_0.5Cu_0.5O_3−δ). The oxygen content of investigated compounds has been determined as a function of temperature. All studied materials are chemically compatible with GDC-10 but react with LSGM and 8YSZ electrolytes. The anode-supported SOFC with a La_0.95Sr_0.05Ni_0.5Cu_0.5O_3−δ cathode presents an excellent power density of 445 mW·cm⁻² at 650 °C in humidified H₂. The results indicate that La_1−xSr_xNi_1−yCu_yO_3−δ perovskites with strontium doping at the A-site can be qualified as promising cathode candidates for anode-supported SOFCs, yielding promising electrochemical performance in the intermediate-temperature range. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Smart Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion)

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Review

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29 pages, 3863 KiB

Open AccessReview

Technological Advances and Market Developments of Solid-State Batteries: A Review

by Felix Thomas, Lauren Mahdi, Julien Lemaire and Diogo M. F. Santos

Materials 2024, 17(1), 239; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17010239 - 01 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2629

Abstract

Batteries are essential in modern society as they can power a wide range of devices, from small household appliances to large-scale energy storage systems. Safety concerns with traditional lithium-ion batteries prompted the emergence of new battery technologies, among them solid-state batteries (SSBs), offering enhanced safety, energy density, and lifespan. This paper reviews current state-of-the-art SSB electrolyte and electrode materials, as well as global SSB market trends and key industry players. Solid-state electrolytes used in SSBs include inorganic solid electrolytes, organic solid polymer electrolytes, and solid composite electrolytes. Inorganic options like lithium aluminum titanium phosphate excel in ionic conductivity and thermal stability but exhibit mechanical fragility. Organic alternatives such as polyethylene oxide and polyvinylidene fluoride offer flexibility but possess lower ionic conductivity. Solid composite electrolytes combine the advantages of inorganic and organic materials, enhancing mechanical strength and ionic conductivity. While significant advances have been made for composite electrolytes, challenges remain for synthesis intricacies and material stability. Nuanced selection of these electrolytes is crucial for advancing resilient and high-performance SSBs. Furthermore, while global SSB production capacity is currently below 2 GWh, it is projected to grow with a >118% compound annual growth rate by 2035, when the potential SSB market size will likely exceed 42 billion euros. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Smart Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion)

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37 pages, 6018 KiB

Open AccessReview

Polymorphs of Nb₂O₅ Compound and Their Electrical Energy Storage Applications

by Rui Pang, Zhiqiang Wang, Jinkai Li and Kunfeng Chen

Materials 2023, 16(21), 6956; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16216956 - 30 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1813

Abstract

Niobium pentoxide (Nb₂O₅), as an important dielectric and semiconductor material, has numerous crystal polymorphs, higher chemical stability than water and oxygen, and a higher melt point than most metal oxides. Nb₂O₅ materials have been extensively studied in electrochemistry, lithium batteries, catalysts, ionic liquid gating, and microelectronics. Nb₂O₅ polymorphs provide a model system for studying structure–property relationships. For example, the T-Nb₂O₅ polymorph has two-dimensional layers with very low steric hindrance, allowing for rapid Li-ion migration. With the ever-increasing energy crisis, the excellent electrical properties of Nb₂O₅ polymorphs have made them a research hotspot for potential applications in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and supercapacitors (SCs). The basic properties, crystal structures, synthesis methods, and applications of Nb₂O₅ polymorphs are reviewed in this article. Future research directions related to this material are also briefly discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Smart Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion)

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16 pages, 2998 KiB

Open AccessReview

Design and Optimization Strategies for Flexible Quasi-Solid-State Thermo-Electrochemical Cells

by Bingchen Huo, Fengxia Kuang and Cun-Yue Guo

Materials 2023, 16(19), 6574; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16196574 - 06 Oct 2023

Viewed by 915

Abstract

Currently, efficient utilization of low-grade thermal energy is a great challenge. Thermoelectricity is an extremely promising method of generating electrical energy from temperature differences. As a green energy conversion technology, thermo-electrochemical cells (TECs) have attracted much attention in recent years for their ability to convert thermal energy directly into electricity with high thermal power. Within TECs, anions and cations gain and lose electrons, respectively, at the electrodes, using the potential difference between the hot and cold terminals of the electrodes by redox couples. Additionally, the anions and cations therein are constantly circulating and mobile via concentration diffusion and thermal diffusion, providing an uninterrupted supply of power to the exterior. This review article focuses mainly on the operation of TECs and recent advances in redox couples, electrolytes, and electrodes. The outlook for optimization strategies regarding TECs is also outlined in this paper. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Smart Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion)

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