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Advanced Polymer Electrolytes for Fuel Cell and Lithium-Ion Battery Applications

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 962

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Energy Materials Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, 268 Chungwon-daero, Chungju-si 27478, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
Interests: fuel cells; electrolytes; li ion battery; hydrogel; synthesis of monomers & polymers

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Guest Editor
Department of Energy Materials Science and Engineering, Konkuk University, 268 Chungwon-daero, Chungju-si 27478, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea
Interests: polymer electrolytes; polymer electrolyte membrane; lithium-ion batteries; fuel cell and battery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Polymer electrolytes are at the forefront of innovation in electrochemical energy systems, offering unique advantages such as mechanical flexibility, a lightweight design, and tuneable ionic conductivity. As the demand for high-performance, safe, and sustainable energy technologies grows, polymer-based electrolytes have become essential components in fuel cells and lithium-ion batteries. This Special Issue aims to showcase recent advances in the design, synthesis, and application of polymer electrolytes tailored for these energy devices. We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that explore novel polymer architectures, gel and solid-state electrolytes, nanocomposite systems, and interface engineering strategies. Contributions addressing ion transport mechanisms, thermal and electrochemical stability, and integration into flexible or wearable devices are particularly welcome. The Issue also encourages submissions on biopolymers and recyclable materials for green energy applications. It aims to serve as a platform for researchers to share insights and breakthroughs that drive the development of next-generation energy storage and conversion technologies. Topics of interest include the following:

  • Solid and gel polymer electrolytes;
  • Polymer nanocomposites and hybrid systems;
  • Fuel cell and lithium-ion battery integration;
  • Ionic conductivity and transport mechanisms;
  • Interface engineering and stability;
  • Sustainable and biopolymer electrolytes;

Dr. Sabuj Chandra Sutradhar
Dr. Hohyoun Jang
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 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. Polymers 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 2700 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

  • polymer electrolytes
  • ionic conductivity
  • solid-state electrolytes
  • fuel cells
  • lithium-ion batteries
  • flexible devices
  • sustainable materials
  • biopolymers

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 5729 KB  
Article
A Hybrid Oleic-Acid-Derived Polymer Electrolyte Integrating Single- and Dual-Ion Conducting Systems for Lithium-Ion Batteries
by Wansu Bae, Sutradhar Sabuj Chandra, Doyul Lee, Donghoon Kang, Hyewon Na, Jiye Lee and Hohyoun Jang
Polymers 2026, 18(6), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym18060773 - 23 Mar 2026
Viewed by 606
Abstract
In this work, a hybrid polymer electrolyte integrating single- and dual-ion conducting systems was developed for lithium-ion batteries using bio-based materials, namely oleic-acid derivatives and epoxidized soybean oil, through an in situ polymerization process. The fixed FSI anions in LiEFSOA enhance the selectivity [...] Read more.
In this work, a hybrid polymer electrolyte integrating single- and dual-ion conducting systems was developed for lithium-ion batteries using bio-based materials, namely oleic-acid derivatives and epoxidized soybean oil, through an in situ polymerization process. The fixed FSI anions in LiEFSOA enhance the selectivity of Li+ transport, while the cross-linked network formed by ESO provides mechanical stability, and the LiFSI incorporated into the polymer matrix helps maintain sufficient overall ionic conductivity. In addition, the long C18 oleic chains increase the internal free volume of the matrix, thereby improving segmental mobility within the amorphous phase. The in situ polymerization inside the cell causes intimate interfacial contact between the electrode and electrolyte, achieving an ionic conductivity of 1.05 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 30 °C. Electrochemical evaluation using LiFePO4/FSOA-2/Li cells shows an initial discharge capacity of 149.09 mAh g−1 and a capacity retention of 81.09% after 100 cycles, and the average coulombic efficiency was 99.62%, demonstrating that the designed FSOA electrolyte exhibits stable cycling performance and competitive capacity. Overall, the combination of eco-friendly materials and a hybrid ion transport strategy provides a promising platform for developing sustainable and high-performance polymer electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries. Full article
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