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

Dear Colleagues,

As the world faces the daunting combination of surging energy demands, rising greenhouse gas emissions and tightening energy resources, renewable power is growing impressively 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 ever, and the continuously developing demands of contemporary applications necessitate the design of adaptable energy storage/conversion and power supply systems offering wide ranges of energy and power densities. Since no single energy storage technology can address such energy/power requirements simultaneously, various combinations of storage technologies and systems can be developed. In this regard, batteries, electrochemical capacitors (ECs) and fuel cells, three crucially important electrochemical energy storage/conversion devices, will play a vital role in producing sufficient renewable energy to meet our future energy demands. Yet, the inherent intermittency of supply from renewable energy resources can only be addressed by a step change in the energy storage/conversion capability of these devices to ensure security and continuity of energy supply from a more distributed and intermittent supply base. This Special Issue 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 current 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 and electric components. We also encourage papers presenting processes and implementations in this field while addressing the currently existing challenges associated with their electrode and electolyte materials, structural design and optimization, application of novel materials, current trends and future developments, including both electrochemical as well as electrical engineering aspects and fabrication of their components and production of the device. Moreover, their performance analysis, operational management and integration to improve the overall performance of energy /power supply systems with their associated advances 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 the electrode materials.
• Novel and benign electrolytes for batteries and electrochemical capacitors and the type of electrolytes used in fuel cells.
• Understanding of their underlying mechanisms of energy storage/conversion.
• Structural design and optimization, and 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.
• Their technoeconomic analysis and market analyses. 
• Their integration with other storage technologies to improve the overall performance of energy systems.

Prof. Dr. Mojtaba Mirzaeian
Prof. Dr. Peter Hall
Prof. Dr. Desmond Gibson
Prof. Dr. Saule Aidarova
Topic Editors