Novel Ceramic Materials for the Energy Transition

Dear Colleagues,

High global energy consumption, including its consequences, such as global warming and harmful gas emissions, is one of the main challenges of our society. This worldwide threat has to be tackled in different fields, but the “energy transition” is essential. Energy production has to release zero carbon emissions and this is only possible with a shift towards sustainable and renewable energy systems. In that sense, new materials are demanded to increase the efficiency of power generation systems and to develop novel environmentally friendly approaches, as well as to reduce – or even eliminate – the carbon footprint during their processing. Ceramics play a determinant role since they present high chemical stability under aggressive environmental conditions to increase the operating temperature, and consequently the overall efficiency. Furthermore, they have low density, which is critical for transportation (i.e., batteries in cars and gas turbines in planes) and a unique combination of ionic and electronic conductivities (for Li- and Na- batteries, Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, gas membranes, etc.).

The scope of this Special Issue embraces research on the processing, characterization, and properties of advanced ceramics for the energy transition, including high-temperature materials (such as ceramic matrix composites, max phases, ultra-high temperature ceramics, and thermal barrier coatings), Li- and Na- batteries, solid oxide fuel cells, gas separation membranes, CO₂ capture, electrolysis, hydrogen production and storage, solar energy, photovoltaics, and nuclear fusion among others.

Prof. Dr. Jesus Gonzalez-Julian
Guest Editor

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