Advances in Lithium-Ion Batteries: Electrode Materials and Their Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Li-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely utilized to power portable electronic devices and they are expected to play a pivotal role in the emerging markets of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and grid-scale energy storage systems. In particular, the rapidly growing BEV market requires LIBs with a lifetime comparable to that of a vehicle. The success of LIBs stems from their high energy density, long cycle life, and relatively low capital cost. However, as the global demand for efficient and sustainable energy storage continues to rise, the need for next-generation LIBs with enhanced performance—such as a higher energy density, faster charging capabilities, improved safety, and reduced capital costs—has become more pressing than ever.

This Special Issue aims to consolidate recent breakthroughs in electrode material development, provide fundamental insights into failure mechanisms, and highlight innovative approaches to improving battery performance. By bringing together state-of-the-art research, this Special Issue seeks to drive the evolution of next-generation LIBs, bridging the gap between fundamental material science and practical applications.

We welcome the submission of both original research articles and reviews to this Special Issue. Their research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

1. High-energy-density cathode materials, e.g., ultra-high-Ni layered oxides and lithium-rich oxides;
2. High-capacity anodes, e.g., silicon-based materials and novel carbon structures;
3. High-safety electrolytes, e.g., solid-state and hybrid-solid-state electrolytes;
4. Self-healing electrodes;
5. The multi-scale modeling of electrochemical and mechanical degradation;
6. Strategies for electrode material optimization, e.g., surface coating and defect engineering;
7. Electrode degradation mechanisms and failure analyses;
8. Fast-charging electrode materials;
9. Sustainable manufacturing and recycling;
10. Application-driven advances and commercialization strategies.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Lihan Zhang
Guest Editor

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. 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.