Using Nanotechnology for Electrode Materials in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Nowadays, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used in portable electronics, electric vehicles, and grid-scale energy storage systems. However, the commercial graphite anode has almost reached its theoretical capacity limit of 372 mAh g⁻¹, and conventional cathode materials still face problems such as low specific capacity and unstable electrode-electrolyte interfaces, which limit the cycle life and safety of the batteries. Nanotechnology can provide useful ways to deal with these problems, because it shortens the diffusion path of lithium ions, buffers the volume strain during charge and discharge, and stabilizes the interfacial chemistry between electrode and electrolyte. This paper reviews the recent development of nanotechnology in both cathode and anode materials. For cathode materials, elemental doping can stabilize the crystal lattice and improve ion transport, surface coatings can reduce the dissolution of transition metals and side reactions with the electrolyte, and morphology control can further shorten diffusion paths and improve rate capability. For anode materials, carbon coating, porous structures, and one-dimensional nanowires can relieve volume expansion and make the solid-electrolyte interphase more stable. This review also discusses several key challenges, such as nanoparticle agglomeration, side reactions at the interface, and manufacturing cost, and gives some prospects for future multi-scale synergistic design.