Intensive research is being performed to fulfill the future requirements for low-cost energy conversion and storage. Relevant topics in this emerging field are photovoltaics, batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors and energy harvesting devices based on piezoelectric and thermoelectric effects. The understanding of nanoscale phenomena occurring at surfaces and interfaces is essential for these crucial energy conversion and energy storage applications. In order to characterize these complex interactions at the nanoscale (where most of the physical and chemical phenomena occur), various metrology methods such as scanning probe microscopy (SPM) currently play a major role.

This Thematic Series is collection of peer-reviewed articles focused on SPM related to energy conversion and storage applications and to stimulate the development and utilization of new SPM methods which could advance our understanding of energy-related materials. The following topics are covered in this Thematic Series:

• Advanced SPM methods for electrical and mechanical property characterization
• Novel materials for photovoltaics and batteries
• Local performance of (hybrid) solar cells, batteries, supercapacitors and thermoelectric devices
• Time-resolved EFM/KPFM imaging of the charge carrier dynamics of energy devices
• (Photo)degradation of energy materials and devices
• Novel architectures for batteries
• Novel methods for electrochemical surface characterization
• Piezo–force microscopy on piezoelectric materials for energy harvesting