Carbon materials, including graphite, hard carbon, soft carbon, graphene, and carbon nanotubes, are widely used as high-performance negative electrodes for sodium-ion and potassium-ion batteries (SIBs and PIBs).
Lithium (Li) metal is widely recognized as a highly promising negative electrode material for next-generation high-energy-density rechargeable batteries due to its exceptional specific capacity (3860 mAh g −1), low electrochemical potential (−3.04 V vs. standard hydrogen electrode), and low density (0.534 g cm −3).
The escalating demand for high-capacity energy storage systems emphasizes the necessity to innovate batteries with enhanced energy densities. Consequently, materials for negative electrodes that can achieve high energy densities have attracted significant attention.
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.
The limitations in potential for the electroactive material of the negative electrode are less important than in the past thanks to the advent of 5 V electrode materials for the cathode in lithium-cell batteries. However, to maintain cell voltage, a deep study of new electrolyte–solvent combinations is required.
As the negative electrode material of SIBs, the material has a long period of stability and a specific capacity of 673 mAh g −1 when the current density is 100 mAh g −1.