LAUSR

DOI: 10.1002/adma.201705871 surface-coating technology for high-energy Li-ion batteries, as well as other battery systems. High-energy anode materials for lithium-ion batteries, including Si and Sn, are also reviewed and reported in this issue. Yinzhu Jiang (article number 1606499) reports a highperformance Sn-based alloying anode boosted by pseudocapacitance at interfaces of Fe/Sn/Li2O, while Wei Luo, Dongyuan Zhao, and co-workers (article number 1700523) report an elastic coating of amorphous TiO2 to significantly improve the cycling stability. Novel 2D materials are also reviewed by Ziqi Sun’s group (article number 1700176) for next-generation batteries. In particular, Yi Du’s group (article number 1606716) highlights silicene as a novel 2D material that could serve as an interesting anode material for future Li-ion-battery applications. Hierarchically porous micro-/nanostructures are also outlined by Weishan Li’s group (article number 1607015) for battery applications. From the sustainability point of view, organic redox compounds containing earth-abundant elements (C, H, O, N, etc.) will be ideal electrode materials for renewable energy applications and are environmentally benign. Jun Chen and co-workers (article number 1607007) summarize a molecular engineering approach for tuning the capacity, potential, kinetics, and stability of carbonyl electrode materials for both Li-ion batteries and flow batteries. Lithium–sulfur (LiS) batteries have been considered as energy-storage devices with high specific-energy density, along with the advantages of low cost and natural abundance. LiS batteries have been investigated over the past decade, and significant progress has been made. Feng Li’s group (article number 1606823) summarizes the status of and prospects for LiS batteries. More research needs to be done, however, with the emphasis on integral design, including optimization of the sulfur cathode, lithium anode, and electrolyte to achieve reliable LiS batteries with satisfactory performance for possible market penetration. The electrolyte is one of the key points that affect the cycle life of LiS batteries. Jiazhao Wang and co-workers (article number 1700449) report on the relationship between the molecular structure and the properties of common organic electrolytes, along with their effects on LiS batteries. Guoxiu Wang’s group (article number 1700587) reports on the performance of a novel Prussian Blue cathode with sulfur and soluble polysulfides that could significantly improve the cycle life and rate capability. Renjie Chen’s group (article number 1700598) reports that large-scale production of 18.6 A h pouch cells with specific energy of 460 A h kg−1 has been achieved with modular-assembled carbon microstructures as the sulphur host. LiS batteries are near commercialization, as more and more prototype large-scale batteries have been achieved. The application of LiS batteries in drones could be promising due to their high specific-energy density at the current stage. The Next-Generation Battery Symposium was held in 2016 at the Institute of Superconducting and Electronic Materials (ISEM), University of Wollongong, Australia. 2016 marks the 22nd anniversary of ISEM. The total number of attendees was around 150. Most of the attendees were newly established researchers. This symposium provided an opportunity for all the young researchers to get together and share their knowledge and their current research work. The discussions and presentations were of very high quality and mainly on next-gene ration batteries. “Next-generation” batteries, in our opinion, are all about materials and systems that are currently not commercially available, but could be commercialized in the near future. With the help of Dr. Esther Levy (Consulting Editor for Advanced Materials), we proposed this special issue based on selected presentations at that symposium for Advanced Materials. This issue is composed of Reviews, Research News, and Communications. We have tried to cover all the aspects of promising next-generation battery systems, including high-energy Li-ion batteries, Na-ion batteries, LiS batteries, LiO2 batteries, NaO2 batteries, Al-ion batteries, and flow batteries. Supercapacitors and solid-oxide fuel cells are also introduced and reviewed in this issue. From the materials point of view, this issue covers different materials, designs, configurations, and morphologies, such as 2D materials, porous materials, and 3D nanostructures. Different kinds of active materials and electrolyte materials, from inorganic materials to organic materials, are also reviewed for battery applications. Li-ion batteries are playing an important role in our daily lives. One important issue is how to meet the rapidly growing demand for electric vehicles and energy storage. Li-ion batteries are facing great challenges to further improve energy density, cycle life, and operational safety. Developing high-capacity cathode materials is one of the major problems to be solved. Dingguo Xia and Biao Li (article number 1701054) review previous work on anionic redox, which is considered as a crucial reaction in the further development of high-capacity cathode materials for Li-ion batteries, to provide a better understanding of anionic-redox mechanisms. The involvement of oxygen redox can achieve multiple electron transfer, resulting in high capacity. High capacity also brings less structural stability, however. Although the challenge still exists for high-energydensity cathode materials for the Li-ion battery, anionic redox could provide new scope for the design of superior electrodes. Zaiping Guo’s group (article number 1605807) reviews cathode