Advancements in Electrode-Electrolyte Interface: From Lithium-Ion to Multi-valent Batteries

Dear Colleagues,

Solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) is key to the durability of lithium-based batteries and is also relevant for multi-valent batteries beyond lithium-ion. Its stability is of paramount significance in ensuring the efficient operation of batteries, especially in demanding environments such as those encountered in electric vehicles and high-capacity stationary storage systems. An unstable SEI can lead to rapid battery degradation, capacity loss, and potential safety concerns. Thus, enhancing our understanding and knowledge of the SEI stability can revolutionize the battery domain.

In this Special Issue of Batteries, ‘Advancements in Electrode-Electrolyte Interface: From Lithium-Ion to Multi-valent Batteries’, our primary focus will be on the stability of the SEI. We aim to delve deep into the factors affecting its stability, methods to characterize it, and innovative solutions to enhance it.

We are particularly interested in contributions that address the following:

• Explore the chemical and physical formation mechanisms of SEI and their impact on its stability;
• Understand the effects of different electrolyte compositions, additives, and solvents on SEI stability;
• Investigate the influence of battery operation conditions, such as temperature, state of charge, and charge/discharge rates on SEI evolution and stability;
• Develop state-of-the-art characterization techniques to monitor SEI growth, thickness, and composition both in situ and ex situ;
• Propose novel strategies, materials, or formulations to enhance SEI stability and reduce its impedance growth;
• Understand and mitigate the side reactions leading to SEI instability and consequential lithium-ion battery capacity loss;
• Link SEI stability with the overall safety, thermal behavior, and potential hazards in multi-valent and lithium-ion cells.

Topics of interest include but are not limited to the following:

• Advanced spectroscopic and microscopic techniques for SEI characterization;
• The role of electrolyte additives in SEI stability;
• Computational and theoretical studies on SEI formation and evolution;
• Impact of SEI instability on overall battery degradation and failure mechanisms;
• Innovations in SEI protective coatings and barrier layers;
• Electrochemical techniques to evaluate SEI properties and its influence on battery performance;
• Correlation between SEI stability and lithium plating in fast charging conditions;
• SEI's role in preventing or aggravating dendritic growth;
• Influence of SEI on solid-state lithium batteries and next-generation chemistries.

We believe that by highlighting the intricacies of the solid electrolyte interphase and its stability, this Special Issue will act as a beacon for researchers, academicians, and industry experts, propelling them towards the development of more reliable, long-lasting, and safer multi-valent and lithium-ion batteries.

Dr. Fernando A. Soto
Dr. Xueping Qin
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.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Batteries is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 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.

• Solid Electrolyte Interphase (SEI)
• Lithium-based batteries
• Multi-valent batteries
• SEI stability
• Electrode-Electrolyte Interface
• Electrolyte additives
• Electrochemical techniques
• Lithium plating
• Dendritic growth
• Solid-state lithium batteries