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Advanced Functional Materials for Energy Harvesting and Storage Applications

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 August 2025 | Viewed by 736

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Mechanical and Construction Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Environment, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
Interests: dielectrics; piezoelectrics; smart plastics; low-temperature synthesis of ceramics
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Guest Editor
Guangxi Universities Key Laboratory of Non-Ferrous Metal Oxide Electronic Functional Materials and Devices, College of Material Science and Engineering, Guilin University of Technology, Guilin 541004, China
Interests: information function materials and devices; sensitive components

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is dedicated to exploring cutting-edge advancements in functional materials designed for energy harvesting and storage applications. Encompassing a broad spectrum of research, the aim is to present innovative approaches and breakthroughs in the development of materials that play a pivotal role in enhancing the efficiency and performance of energy harvesting and storage systems. Contributions covering a diverse range of materials, from nanomaterials to advanced composites, and their applications in renewable energy technologies are encouraged. The scope of this Special Issue extends to the synthesis, characterization, and application of these materials, fostering a deeper understanding of their potential impact on the sustainable energy landscape. Researchers and practitioners are invited to share their insights, paving the way for the next generation of materials poised to revolutionize energy harvesting and storage technologies.

Dr. Jibran Khaliq
Dr. Chunchun Li
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 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

  • functional materials, including ceramics and composites
  • energy harvesting
  • energy storage 
  • nanomaterials 
  • renewable energy technologies

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 3917 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Network Spherical α-Al2O3 and Its Application on the Separator of Lithium-Ion Batteries
by Haiyang Chen, Huifang Zhang, Hongliang Huang, Mingjie Guo, Jiale Wang, Peng Wang, Bin Li and Junhong Chen
Materials 2025, 18(3), 660; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18030660 - 2 Feb 2025
Viewed by 408
Abstract
Ceramic-coated polyolefin separator technology is considered a simple and effective method for the improvement of lithium-ion battery (LIB) safety. However, the characteristics of ceramic powder can adversely affect the surface structure and ion conductivity of the separators. Therefore, it is crucial to develop [...] Read more.
Ceramic-coated polyolefin separator technology is considered a simple and effective method for the improvement of lithium-ion battery (LIB) safety. However, the characteristics of ceramic powder can adversely affect the surface structure and ion conductivity of the separators. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a ceramic powder that not only improves the thermal stability of the separators but also enhances ion conductivity. Herein, network spherical α-Al2O3 (N-Al2O3) with a multi-dimensional network pore structure was constructed. Furthermore, N-Al2O3 was applied as a coating to one side of polyethylene (PE) separators, resulting in N-Al2O3-PE separators that exhibit superior thermal stability and enhanced wettability with liquid electrolytes. Notably, the N-Al2O3-PE separators demonstrated exceptional ionic conductivity (0.632 mS cm−1), attributed to the internal multi-dimensional network pore structures of N-Al2O3, which facilitated an interconnected and efficient “highway” for the transport of Li+ ions. As a consequence, LiCoO2/Li half batteries equipped with these N-Al2O3-PE separators showcased remarkable rate and cycling performance. Particularly at high current densities, their discharge capacity and capacity retention rate significantly outperformed those of conventional PE separators. Full article
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