What if the key to longer-lasting, more efficient energy storage lies in how we test the materials at its core? 

In a newly published article in ECS Advances, Mike L. Perry and N. Harsha Attanayake tackle one of the most critical—and often overlooked—challenges in redox flow battery (RFB) development: membrane durability. Their work introduces a comprehensive and forward-thinking screening process designed to identify degradation pathways before they become costly, long-term failures. 

Membrane durability 

Traditionally, membrane testing has focused on chemical stability in highly oxidizing environments. But as Perry and Attanayake reveal in “Screening Process for Assessing the Stability of Advanced Redox-Flow-Battery Membranes,” that’s only part of the story. Their proposed framework expands the lens, offering a suite of accelerated and highly sensitive tests that uncover lesser-known degradation mechanisms—helping researchers predict performance over decades, not just months.  (more…)

An exciting, cutting-edge contribution to the scholarly record—“Electrochemically Induced Deposition (ECiD) of Lithium Phosphate and the Effect of Reaction Parameters” by Ali Amir Saleh, Louis L. De Taeye, Sai Gourang Patnaik, Genis Vanheusden, and Philippe Vereecken—features in the March issue of ECS Advances.

Tailoring ECiD processes for desired outcomes

This open-access article dives into a versatile electrochemical approach for synthesizing thin films of lithium phosphate on conductive surfaces via electrochemically induced deposition (ECiD)—a method with broad relevance for materials that are traditionally challenging to deposit electrochemically. By combining experimental investigation with numerical modelling, the authors illuminate how reaction conditions like current density, pH, and electrolyte composition shape the deposition mechanism and resulting material morphology. Their insights advance understanding of how to tailor ECiD processes for desired outcomes, knowledge that will benefit researchers across electrochemistry, energy materials, and solid state science. (more…)

ECS Advances is pleased to highlight a recent article that makes an important contribution to the understanding of high-temperature electrochemical processes: “Evaluating Platinum, Gold, Glassy Carbon, and Graphite Anodes for Chlorine Evolution in Molten Calcium Chloride Salt.” Authored by Cameron Vann, Shelssie Klvacek, Carlos Mejia,  and Devin Rappleye, this work provides timely and practical insights into materials selection for chlorine evolution under extreme conditions.

The chlorine evolution reaction (CER) in molten calcium chloride (CaCl₂) carries several critical technologies, including chlorination, metal refining, rare earth processing, and the treatment and purification of used nuclear fuel. Despite its importance, long-term anode stability and performance in molten salt environments remain persistent challenges. This study directly addresses those challenges through a systematic comparison of four commonly considered anode materials: platinum, gold, glassy carbon, and graphite. (more…)

The Electrochemical Society (ECS) invites nominations for two Associate Editor positions for ECS Advances, the Society’s multidisciplinary gold open access journal.

ECS seeks candidates with expertise aligned with the journal’s broad topical scope, which spans the full breadth of electrochemical and solid state science and technology. Ideal nominees are respected leaders in their fields with demonstrated excellence in scholarly publishing and a commitment to advancing the mission and integrity of ECS journals.

Expertise in emerging aspects of industrial electrochemistry and electrochemical and solid-state technologies, including but not limited to the use of artificial intelligence tools, techno-economics and life-cycle assessments, advanced electrochemical measurements, etc. is preferred but not required. Expertise in all ECS topical interest areas will be considered. (more…)

The latest Editors’ Choice article in ECS Advances takes on one of the most pressing challenges in electrochemical energy research: advancing sustainable, high-performance materials for fuel cells. In “Can Hydrocarbon-Based MEAs Close the Performance Gap to State-of-the-Art Perfluorosulfonic Acid-Based MEAs for PEM Fuel Cells?,” Konstantin A. Weber, Carla S. Harzer, Elias Bindl, Kilian Stengl, and Hubert A. Gasteiger present a breakthrough approach that could reshape the future of membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs).

Closing the Gap with Innovation

The research introduces a wet hot-pressing method that enables the fabrication of high-performance hydrocarbon (HC)-based MEAs—an important fluorine-free alternative to conventional perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA)-based ionomers. Historically, HC-based systems struggled to match the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and durability of PFSA-based MEAs, largely due to catalyst poisoning and incompatibilities in processing. (more…)

ECS Advances is proud to spotlight the article, “Challenges to the Adoption of Deep Eutectic Solvents in the Electrodeposition Industries,” by T. A. Green and S. Roy of the Department of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK. This thought-provoking contribution critically examines the barriers to widespread industrial adoption of deep eutectic solvents (DESs) in electrodeposition processes, an emerging area of great interest for sustainable electrochemical manufacturing.

The authors provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific, technical, and regulatory challenges impeding the transition from traditional electrolytes to DESs, while also offering valuable insights into future research directions that could unlock DESs’ full potential. Their work serves as a crucial reference for researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers aiming to advance green electrochemistry. (more…)

Interview with Editor-in-Chief and editorial board

Don’t miss the compelling ECS Interface feature spotlighting Dr. Rohan Akolkar, Editor-in-Chief of ECS Advances, and members of the ECS Advances Editorial Board.

In this insightful article, Dr. Akolkar shares his vision for the journal and the future of open access publishing at ECS. As we recently reported, ECS Advances is now officially indexed in the Web of Science Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) in both Electrochemistry and Materials Science. Learn more about the journal and plans to further expand the journal’s growing impact and commitment to excellence. 

Read today!

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Dr. Kent Zheng

Dr. Kent Zheng, Assistant Professor in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, is making significant strides in electrochemical research and editorial leadership. Since joining UT Austin in early 2024, he has been at the forefront of developing sustainable battery technologies, focusing on lithium-free systems utilizing zinc and aluminum, and exploring iron-based materials with water-based electrolytes to promote environmental sustainability.​

In addition to his research endeavors, Dr. Zheng serves as an Associate Editor for The Electrochemical Society (ECS) journal ECS Advances, where he contributes to shaping the future of electrochemical science publishing. His editorial insights and vision for the journal were recently highlighted in an interview with the ECS Advances editorial team.   (https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1149/2.F05251IF) (more…)

ECS Gold Open Access journal achieves major milestone

The Electrochemical Society (ECS) is proud to announce that ECS Advances (ECSA), the Society’s multi-topic Gold Open Access journal launched in January 2022, is now officially indexed in Clarivate’s Web of Science (WoS). This milestone marks a significant achievement in the journal’s growth and impact, ensuring that the high-quality research published in ECS Advances is now searchable and accessible to the global scholarly community through one of the most trusted indexing platforms in the world. (more…)