Positive electrodes for Li-ion and lithium batteries (also termed “cathodes”) have been under intense scrutiny since the advent of the Li-ion cell in 1991. This is especially true in the past decade.
This mini-review discusses the recent trends in electrode materials for Li-ion batteries. Elemental doping and coatings have modified many of the commonly used electrode materials, which are used either as anode or cathode materials. This has led to the high diffusivity of Li ions, ionic mobility and conductivity apart from specific capacity.
Herein, positive electrodes were calendered from a porosity of 44–18% to cover a wide range of electrode microstructures in state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium metal was used as a negative electrode in LiClO 4, LiBF 4, LiBr, LiI, or LiAlCl 4 dissolved in organic solvents. Positive-electrode materials were found by trial-and-error investigations of organic and inorganic materials in the 1960s.
The anode and cathode electrodes play a crucial role in temporarily binding and releasing lithium ions, and their chemical characteristics and compositions significantly impact the properties of a lithium-ion cell, including energy density and capacity, among others.
Summary and Perspectives As the energy densities, operating voltages, safety, and lifetime of Li batteries are mainly determined by electrode materials, much attention has been paid on the research of electrode materials.