Batteries, Supercapacitors, Fuel Cells and Combined Energy/Power Supply Systems, 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

As the world faces the daunting combination of surging energy demands, rising greenhouse gas emissions, and tightening energy resources, renewable power is expanding in many parts of the world to fulfil the ever-increasing power demands of newly emerging applications. However, the utilization of energy in the form of electricity generated from renewable resources to satisfy a strong rebound in global electricity demand can only be addressed by a step-change in energy storage. This signifies that energy storage is more important now than at any time in history, and the continuously developing demands of contemporary applications necessitate the design of adaptable energy storage/conversion and power supply systems that offer wide ranges of energy and power densities. Since no single energy storage technology can address this wide range of energy/power requirements simultaneously, a variety of storage technologies and systems consisting of their combinations can be developed. In this regard, batteries, electrochemical capacitors (ECs), and fuel cells, which are recognized as three kinds of the most important electrochemical energy storage/conversion devices, will play a vital role in unlocking renewable energy for our future energy demands. However, the inherent intermittency of supply from renewable energy resources can only be addressed if there is a step-change in the energy storage/conversion capability of these devices, to ensure the security and continuity of energy supply from a more distributed and intermittent supply base. From this perspective, this Topic seeks to contribute to an agenda encompassing all aspects of energy storage/conversion in batteries, electrochemical capacitors (ECs), and fuel cells and their combinations through enhanced scientific and multi-disciplinary works, aiming to improve the knowledge and performance of energy storage/conversion systems and their combinations for a wide range of energy and power supplies.

We are particularly interested in articles and reviews that explore all features of batteries, electrochemical capacitors (ECs), and fuel cells, their energy storage/conversion mechanisms, electric components, and also processes and implementations, in which the currently existing challenges associated with their electrode and electrolyte materials, structural design and optimization, application of novel materials, current trends and future developments, including both electrochemical as well as electrical engineering aspects, and the fabrication of their components and the production of the device are addressed. Moreover, their performance analysis, operational management, and integration, in order to improve the overall performance of energy /power supply systems, with their associated advancements and challenges, are also of special interest.

Topics of interest for publication include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Technologies, processes, and materials.
• Synthesis, characterization, and properties of electrode materials.
• Novel and benign electrolytes for batteries and electrochemical capacitors and the type of electrolytes used in fuel cells.
• Understanding of the underlying mechanisms of energy storage/conversion.
• Structural design and optimization, and the application of novel materials.
• Experimental techniques for testing, characterization, monitoring, and diagnosis.
• Modeling and experimental validation of the device.
• Reliability and safety.
• Sizing and optimization algorithms.
• Performance analysis and operational management of the device under different conditions.
• Technoeconomic analysis and market analyses.

Their integration with other storage technologies to improve the overall performance of energy systems.

Prof. Dr. Haifeng Dai
Prof. Dr. Dongdong Zhao
Prof. Dr. Grzegorz Sierpiński
Dr. Bo Jiang
Topic Editors