Smart Materials for Energy Saving, Storage, and Conversion Devices

Smart materials represent a cutting-edge field in sustainable and efficient energy solutions, distinguished by their ability to dynamically alter properties in response to external stimuli. These stimuli encompass temperature variations, mechanical stress, electromagnetic fields, light exposure, and chemical environments. Integrating smart materials into energy-saving, storage, and conversion devices holds significant promise for revolutionizing various industries. Their responsive nature significantly influences the advancement of energy-saving technologies in areas such as smart windows, adaptive insulation, and responsive building materials. This also enhances the efficiency, reliability, and functionality of energy storage systems, such as batteries and capacitors. Furthermore, it contributes to the development of intelligent and durable energy conversion devices, including water splitting, CO2 conversion, nitrogen reduction, and others. The primary challenge in the field of smart materials for energy saving, storage, and conversion devices lies in optimizing their efficiency, durability, and scalability for practical applications. Current efforts focus on enhancing the energy-saving, storage, and conversion capabilities of smart materials while maintaining cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability. This involves innovative approaches in nanotechnology, biomimetic design, composite material engineering, synthesis techniques, and device integration. Recent advances include the development of new types of smart materials with improved efficiency, functionality, and intelligence. Examples include advanced piezoelectric materials for harvesting mechanical energy and electrochromic materials for smart windows that regulate heat and light transmission. Additionally, advanced energy-related systems, such as flexible batteries and supercapacitors, responsive electrolyzers, and shape memory devices, represent a significant step forward. Addressing these aspects will pave the way for smart materials to play a crucial role in advancing sustainable energy technologies, offering efficient, adaptive, and environmentally friendly solutions.

This Research Topic aims to leverage the transformative potential of smart materials to address current energy challenges and advance sustainable technological solutions. The main objectives include optimizing the efficiency, durability, and scalability of smart materials for practical applications in energy saving, storage, and conversion devices. Specific questions to be answered include how to enhance the energy-saving capabilities of smart materials, improve their integration into existing systems, and develop cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solutions. Hypotheses to be tested involve the potential of novel smart materials to outperform traditional materials in energy applications and the feasibility of large-scale implementation.

To gather further insights into the boundaries of smart materials for energy applications, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
• Material design and optimization: novel approaches in designing smart materials tailored for energy-saving and storage applications, including characterization of their structural, mechanical, and electrical properties.
• Energy saving, storage, and conversion: innovations in utilizing smart materials for controllable energy saving in production and daily life, efficient energy conversion, and storage of renewable power sources.
• Integration and application: practical implementations and integration of smart materials into energy-efficient technologies for sectors like renewable energy generation, smart grids, and sustainable building materials.
• Advanced manufacturing techniques: innovations in scalable manufacturing processes for smart materials to facilitate commercial viability.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that contribute innovative insights, experimental findings, theoretical advancements, and practical applications in the field of smart materials for energy-saving and energy-storage devices.

Keywords: Smart, Energy-saving, Energy storage, energy conversion

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.