Topic: Advanced Functional Materials for Battery Applications

Achieving carbon neutrality requires shifting from fossil fuels to renewables and advancing efficient energy storage. Electrochemical energy storage (EES), which uses electrode redox reactions to convert, store, and release energy, has thus emerged as a promising solution. Over recent years, rechargeable batteries have expanded from portable electronics and electric vehicles into grid storage and emerging sectors. However, conventional EES systems like batteries and supercapacitors still face challenges in capacity, cycling stability, voltage, and lifecycle. Global research is now focused on next-generation materials and technologies for more efficient storage and release. Hybrid and multifunctional composites are being widely explored, with structured and functionalized materials becoming a central focus to meet the demand for high‑performance devices. Functionalization and internal structural design are key strategies for achieving desired material properties. Although materials such as carbon‑based substances, MXenes, high‑entropy materials, and MOFs have seen significant progress, issues remain in energy density, storage mechanisms, cycle life, and commercialization. Continued efforts aim to overcome these barriers and enable more capable, sustainable EES technologies.

This special issue aims to explore the latest advances in advanced functional materials for energy storage and conversion, covering cathode and anode materials, electrolytes, electrode/electrolyte interfaces, electrochemical mechanisms, advanced characterization techniques, theoretical modeling, fabrication processes, and the integration of these technologies into rechargeable battery systems including lithium/sodium/potassium/magnesium‑ion batteries, organic batteries, lithium‑sulfur/lithium‑air batteries, and solid‑state batteries.

This special issue cordially invites researchers to submit original research, reviews, and perspective articles on advanced functional materials in the broad field of energy storage and conversion. Topics include but are not limited to:

● Anode materials;

● Cathode materials;

● Electrolytes;

● Binders;

● Separators;

● Electrode/electrolyte interface;

● Electrochemical mechanisms;

● In-situ characterizations;

● Theoretical modeling;

● Fabrication techniques;

● Advanced multifunctional composite materials.

Lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, potassium-ion batteries, aqueous zinc-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur batteries, cathode materials, anode materials, electrolytes, composite materials