Toward Sustainable Solid Oxide Cells: Materials, Architectures, and Circularity

Solid oxide cells (SOCs), including solid oxide fuel cells and solid oxide electrolysis cells, have been developed for several decades and have demonstrated high efficiency, fuel flexibility, and reversibility, positioning them as key technologies for a low-carbon energy system. Despite significant progress toward technical maturity, challenges related to materials sustainability, long-term stability, cost, and resource availability remain barriers to large-scale deployment. This Special Topic focuses on advancing SOC technologies through a sustainability-driven perspective. Contributions are invited on novel materials and cell architecture concepts, materials discovery and design, innovative processing and scalable manufacturing routes. Studies on degradation mechanisms, durability, and stability under realistic operating conditions are strongly encouraged. The issue also welcomes work on recycling, reuse, circular-economy strategies, and life-cycle assessments. Both experimental and computational studies are welcome.This Special Topic aims to highlight pathways toward efficient, durable, and resource-responsible SOC technologies for sustainable energy systems.