Nanocomposite Membranes for Electrolysis, Fuel Cells, Batteries, and Desalination

A special issue of Membranes (ISSN 2077-0375). This special issue belongs to the section "Membrane Applications for Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 147

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Engineering, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
Interests: capacitive deionization; electrochemical lithium extraction; nanocomposite membranes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanocomposite membranes have emerged as a pivotal technology, driving innovations in critical energy and water applications, including electrolysis, fuel cells, batteries, and desalination. By integrating tailored nanostructures (e.g., nanoparticles, nanotubes, and 2D materials) into polymeric or inorganic matrices, these membranes achieve enhanced ion conductivity, mechanical robustness, chemical stability, and selectivity—essential for improving the efficiency and durability of electrochemical devices. 

In fuel cells, nanocomposite membranes address key limitations, including proton conductivity decay at low humidity, methanol crossover in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), and chemical degradation under oxidative stress. For batteries (e.g., lithium-ion, flow, or lithium-sulfur), they enable critical advances in dendrite suppression, ion-selective transport, and electrolyte stability, directly impacting energy density, cycle life, and safety. 

This Special Issue invites original research and reviews focused on nanocomposite membranes for electrolysis, fuel cells, batteries, and desalination. Topics include but are not limited to the following:

  1. Synthesis and characterization of novel nanocomposite membranes with tailored properties (e.g., proton/ion conductivity, gas barrier, or selectivity);
  2. Structure–performance relationships under operational conditions (e.g., fuel cell humidity cycling or battery charge/discharge stresses);
  3. Advanced fabrication techniques (e.g., electrospinning or layer-by-layer assembly) to optimize membrane morphology and functionality;
  4. Strategies to enhance durability and cost-effectiveness (e.g., hybrid nanomaterials, interface engineering, or recycling);
  5. Performance evaluation and mechanistic studies (e.g., in situ diagnostics or modeling of transport phenomena).

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Lu Guo
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 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

  • nanocomposite membranes
  • electrolysis
  • fuel cells
  • batteries
  • desalination
  • electrochemical systems
  • membrane characterization

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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