In Situ and Operando Characterizations for Energy Materials

Dear Colleagues,

A better design of energy materials (for batteries, solar cells, fuel cells, supercapacitors, etc.) demands the in-depth understanding of failure mechanisms in their native working environment. Unlike ex situ characterizations, in situ and/or in-operando methods can provide comprehensive insights into complex phenomena, including dynamic phase transitions, air-sensitive interphases, metastable intermediates, and kinetically dependent heterogeneity in systems.

Despite a wide application of advanced characterizations on energy materials, the implementation of in situ/operando techniques has been limited by several challenges. First, many characterization methods are expensive and not easily accessible to general researchers. The development of economic characterization devices and methods is highly encouraged for practical uses. Second, the information provided by a single characterization method may be constrained by its temporal or spatial resolution. Therefore, it is meaningful to couple characterization tools on multiple scales and answer a critical question: how do material evolutions observed on multiple lengths and time scales synergically impact the functionality of materials working as energy devices? Third, data management and analysis can be challenging because in situ/operando techniques can generate a large collection of data upon real-time measurements. Machine learning-assisted data analysis and predictions may facilitate the process.

This Special Issue aims to solicit contributions to further develop in situ and operando characterization techniques to better understand energy materials. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) the improvement of existing characterization methods, (2) the development of new characterization tools and data analysis methods, (3) new findings on energy materials using in situ/operando characterizations, and (4) the review of recent advances on topics listed above.

Dr. Daren Wu
Dr. Kaixi Deng
Prof. Dr. Heinz-Günter Brokmeier
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. Crystals 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 2100 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.

• in situ NMR and Raman Spectroscopy
• in situ/operando X-ray diffraction, absorption, and imaging
• in situ/operando SEM and TEM
• in operando thermal, magnetic, acoustic, and mechanical measurements
• energy materials and devices
• computational modeling and simulations for in situ processes