Next-Generation Materials for Electrocatalysis and Energy Storage

Dear Colleagues, 

The global transition towards sustainable energy and chemical economies hinges on critical breakthroughs in electrocatalysis and energy storage technologies. While significant progress has been achieved, current systems often face limitations in efficiency, cost, durability, and material sustainability. This Special Issue of Nanomaterials, entitled "Next-Generation Materials for Electrocatalysis and Energy Storage", is dedicated to showcasing the latest advancements in the design, synthesis, characterization, and mechanistic understanding of novel materials poised to overcome these challenges. This Issue will highlight innovative material strategies that push the boundaries of performance in key electrochemical reactions and energy storage devices, paving the way for a cleaner and more energy-secure future. We aim to bring together cutting-edge research and insightful reviews that explore the frontiers of material science in these vital fields, welcoming both original research articles and comprehensive review articles.

Topics of Interest:

Contributions are invited on topics including, but not limited to, the following areas:

I. Advanced Materials for Electrocatalysis:

Novel Electrocatalyst Design:

Articles may discuss the synthesis, characterization, and performance of advanced electrocatalysts, including single-atom catalysts (SACs), high-entropy alloys/oxides/nitrides, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), MXenes, nanostructured carbons, metal-free catalysts, and quantum dots.

Material Development for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Reactions:

Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) for efficient water splitting.

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for fuel cells and metal–air batteries.

CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) for valuable fuels and chemicals.

Nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) for sustainable ammonia synthesis.

Electrocatalytic oxidation/valorization of biomass, alcohols, and other organic molecules.

Mechanistic Insights:

We welcome studies focusing on understanding reaction mechanisms, identifying active sites, and catalyst stabilization using advanced in situ/operando characterization techniques and computational modeling.

II. Next-Generation Materials for Energy Storage:

Advanced Battery Systems:

Materials for beyond lithium-ion batteries: anodes, cathodes, and electrolytes for sodium-ion, potassium-ion, magnesium-ion, calcium-ion, zinc-ion, and aluminum-ion batteries.

Solid-state batteries: development and understanding of novel solid electrolytes (e.g., sulfide, oxide, polymer, composite), interfacial engineering strategies (electrode-electrolyte), and all-solid-state cell performance.

High-Performance Lithium-based Batteries:

Innovations in silicon anodes, lithium metal anodes (and their protection), advanced high-voltage/high-capacity cathodes, novel liquid and quasi-solid electrolytes, and functional electrolyte additives.

Materials and system design for lithium–sulfur and lithium–air batteries.

Supercapacitors and Hybrid Devices:

Novel electrode materials (e.g., MXenes, 2D materials, advanced porous carbons, pseudocapacitive metal oxides/sulfides/nitrides) for high-energy and high-power-density supercapacitors.

The development of advanced electrolytes for supercapacitors, including ionic liquids, redox-active electrolytes, and solid/gel electrolytes.

Materials for hybrid ion capacitors and other emerging electrochemical energy storage devices.

Safety and Durability:

Material-focused approaches to enhance the safety, thermal stability, and cycle life of energy storage systems.

III. Emerging and Cross-Cutting Themes:

AI and Machine Learning in Materials Discovery:

The application of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and high-throughput computational screening for the rational design, prediction, and discovery of novel electrocatalytic and energy storage materials.

Advanced Characterization and Modeling:

The utilization of cutting-edge in situ/operando techniques (e.g., synchrotron-based methods, advanced microscopy, spectroscopy) and multiscale modeling to probe material structures, interfaces, and dynamic processes during operation.

Sustainable Materials and Processes:

The development of eco-friendly materials, green synthesis routes, and scalable manufacturing techniques for next-generation electrocatalysts and energy storage components.

Interfacial Science and Engineering:

Fundamental studies and innovative strategies for understanding and optimizing interfaces (solid-solid, solid-liquid) in electrocatalytic systems and energy storage devices.

Defect Engineering and Nanostructuring:

Tailoring material properties through controlled introduction of defects, doping, strain engineering, and advanced nanostructuring techniques.

Prof. Dr. Cengiz S. Ozkan
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 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. Nanomaterials 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 2400 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.

• next-generation materials
• electrocatalysis
• energy storage
• solid-state batteries
• sodium-ion batteries
• lithium—metal anodes
• supercapacitors
• fuel cells
• hydrogen evolution (HER)
• oxygen evolution (OER)
• oxygen reduction (ORR)
• CO₂ reduction (CO₂RR)
• single-atom catalysts
• high-entropy materials
• MXenes
• metal—organic frameworks (MOFs)
• advanced electrolytes
• in-situ/operando characterization
• AI in materials design
• sustainable materials