Advances in Hydrogen Embrittlement of Metals: Mechanisms, Modelling, Mitigation and Materials Innovation

Dear Colleagues,

Hydrogen embrittlement (HE) remains one of the most critical challenges limiting the safe deployment of hydrogen technologies across energy infrastructures, transportation, manufacturing, and advanced materials applications. Despite decades of research, the fundamental mechanisms governing hydrogen uptake, trapping, diffusion, and fracture in metals are still under active investigation. At the same time, the global shift toward hydrogen-based energy systems has intensified the need for improved understanding, predictive tools, and mitigation strategies.

This Special Issue invites high-quality contributions that advance scientific and engineering knowledge related to hydrogen embrittlement, including experimental, computational, and industrial perspectives. We welcome submissions that deepen our mechanistic understanding, propose innovative mitigation approaches, or demonstrate practical solutions for hydrogen-compatible materials.

Topics of Interest (include but are not limited to):

• Hydrogen–metal interactions across microstructural and chemical heterogeneities;
• Mechanisms of hydrogen uptake, trapping, and diffusion;
• HE in steels, nickel alloys, titanium alloys, aluminium alloys, and other structural materials;
• Multi-scale modelling (DFT, MD, KMC, FEM, phase-field, machine learning);
• Hydrogen-assisted cracking, stress corrosion cracking, and fracture mechanics;
• Novel characterization techniques (TDS, ToF-SIMS, APT, neutron scattering, in situ electrochemistry);
• Effects of stress, temperature, strain rate, and environment coupling;
• Hydrogen embrittlement in AM/3D-printed materials;
• Material selection and design for hydrogen transport, storage, and infrastructure;
• Coatings, inhibitors, and mitigation technologies;
• Case studies from industry (pipelines, compressors, offshore systems, storage tanks).

Dr. Thaneshan Sapanathan
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. Metals 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 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.