New Battery Material and Process Developments for the Construction of Environmentally Friendly Energy Systems

Dear Colleagues,

We are privileged to invite Dr. Junsu Park and Dr. Lee, from the School of Mechanical Engineering at Kunsan National University (South Korea), to serve as Guest Editors for this topical Special Issue. Dr. Park and Dr. Lee stand at the forefront of advanced battery manufacturing research, with distinguished expertise in laser-based precision processing for next-generation energy storage systems. Their pioneering work on three-dimensional electrode structuring and ultra-thick electrode fabrication has unlocked new pathways for achieving both high energy density and superior power performance in lithium-ion batteries.

The global transition toward carbon-neutral energy systems has intensified the demand for batteries with not only exceptional performance but also minimal environmental impact throughout their lifecycle. This Special Issue, "New Battery Material and Process Developments for the Construction of Environmentally Friendly Energy Systems," directly addresses this critical need by bridging innovations in materials science, green manufacturing, and sustainable design.

We seek comprehensive contributions that advance the frontier of eco-conscious battery technology, including fundamental research on sustainable electrode materials, breakthroughs in low-impact manufacturing processes, and integrative approaches to circular economy implementation. By assembling cutting-edge research from leading experts worldwide, this Special Issue aims to establish a definitive reference point for developing next-generation energy storage solutions that align with stringent environmental sustainability criteria.

Scope and Topics

This Special Issue welcomes original research and review articles on the following topics:

1. Advanced battery materials (silicon-based anodes, high-nickel cathodes, solid-state electrolytes) and their electrochemical optimization, with emphasis on earth-abundant elements, reduced critical material dependency, and eco-friendly synthesis routes that minimize waste and energy consumption.
2. Hybrid batteries integrating batteries with supercapacitors for high efficiency and long cycle life, enabling optimized resource utilization and reduced material redundancy through complementary energy storage mechanisms.
3. Aqueous batteries based on specialized surface coating or treatment, and novel functional materials with non-organic electrolyte, offering intrinsic safety and reduced environmental hazard through non-flammable water-based systems while eliminating toxic organic solvents.
4. Green manufacturing innovations including laser processing, dry electrode coating, and water-based binder systems, focusing on energy-efficient processes, solvent-free fabrication, elimination of toxic chemicals, and substantial reductions in water consumption and carbon emissions.
5. Three-dimensional electrode architectures and thick-film designs for enhanced energy density, maximizing material utilization efficiency and enabling simplified manufacturing flows that reduce processing steps and material waste.
6. Sustainable end-of-life strategies: recycling, reuse, and circular economy approaches, including closed-loop material recovery, second-life applications, eco-design principles for disassembly, and cradle-to-cradle sustainability frameworks.
7. Life cycle assessment and carbon footprint reduction across battery production chains, with a focus on quantitative environmental impact metrics, renewable energy integration in manufacturing, renewable energy integration, net-zero manufacturing targets, and comprehensive sustainability benchmarking.

Dr. Jun Su Park
Dr. Sangkyu Lee
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. Sustainability 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.

• thick electrode technology
• silicon anode
• hybrid battery
• aqueous battery
• three-dimensional battery processing
• environmentally friendly energy systems
• sustainable energy storage
• green manufacturing
• solid-state batteries
• battery recycling
• battery reuse