Frontiers of Post-lithium Batteries

Dear Colleagues,

the practical energy density of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has been increased significantly during the last decades but will soon reach its limit. Many different battery technologies are explored currently to pose a supplement or even an alternative to the state-of-the-art technology of LIBs. Thereby, concepts for metal sulfur batteries as well as for various types of metal oxygen batteries but also solid state batteries (SSB) have been investigated intensively in recent years.

Despite the fast progress and the immense research activities in the field of these batteries (i.e. in the filed of post-lithium-ion batteries), many fundamental aspects of the electrode materials applied and the working principle in general are not fully understood – e.g. the transfer resistance for the exchange of ions between solid-liquid and solid-solid interfaces in SSBs. All remaining challenges are multifaceted and still need to be resolved before the lifetime and the energy density of post-lithium-ion batteries can be further enhanced.

In the last decades, many fundamentals and the effectiveness of new materials have been investigated in post-lithium-ion batteries with researchers being devoted to advanced materials characterization (e.g. surface analytic with high resolution), operando analysis (e.g. with tomography-based methods) as well as modeling and simulation (e.g. considering continuum models or ab initio models).

Based on a quote ascribed to Max Planck – ‘Insight must precede application.’ – we encourage submission of papers focused on the understanding of materials and interfaces in different kinds of post-lithium-ion batteries such as Li-S, Li-O₂ and Li metal but also Na-based, K-based, Al-based, Mg-based, Zn-based and Ca-based battery systems.

Topics shall primarily be dedicated to the use of electrochemical methods, surface analytics and operando methods as well as model-based methods to gain better insight into material degradation, the formation of interfaces and interphases, and the limitation of battery performance and lifetime. Additionally, manuscripts focusing on novel (a) electrode materials, (b) processes for electrode and battery preparation/fabrication, and (c) unusual techniques for battery analysis may also be considered for publication.

Prof. Dr. Daniel Schröder
Dr. Katja Kretschmer
Guest Editors

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• Battery
• Beyond Li-ion
• Next-generation battery
• Metal oxygen battery
• Metal sulfur battery
• Solid state battery
• Electrochemistry
• Material degradation
• Interfaces
• Interphases
• Surface analysis
• Operando techniques
• Modeling and simulation
• Electrode material
• Electrode fabrication