Insights into Enhancing Electrochemical Performance of Li-Ion Battery Anodes via Polymer Coating

Abstract

Due to the ever-growing importance of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, the development of electrode materials and their processing techniques remains a hot topic in academia and industry. Even the well-developed and widely utilized active materials present issues, such as surface reactivity, irreversible capacity in the first cycle, and ageing. Thus, there have been many efforts to modify the surface of active materials to enhance the electrochemical performance of the resulting electrodes and cells. Herein, we review the attempts to use polymer coatings on the anode active materials. This type of coating stands out because of the possibility of acting as an artificial solid electrolyte interphase (SEI), serving as an anode protective layer. We discuss the prominent examples of anodes with different mechanisms: intercalation (graphite and titanium oxides), alloy (silicon, tin, and germanium), and conversion (transition metal oxides) anodes. Finally, we give our perspective on the future developments in this field.

Towards greener batteries: sustainable components and materials for next-generation batteries

“…However, there are many challenges associated with battery anode materials, such as low specific capacity, volume change, during lithiation and delithiation, and unwanted side reactions. [11][12][13] To overcome these challenges, researchers have been developing various strategies to improve the performance and stability of anode materials, i.e. surface modification by coating, nanostructuring, and composite formation.…”

Insights into Influencing Electrode Calendering on the Battery Performance

“…Si anodes, with ten times the theoretical capacity of graphite anodes, have attracted considerable research attention for next‐generation LIBs comparing the specific capacity of 4212 mAh g −1 for Li 4.4 Si to Gr anode with only 372 mAh g −1 . [ 103 ] Besides, Si is the second‐most abundant element in the earth's crust, and it is environmentally benign and has low electrochemical potential. However, Si has a huge volume change during (de)lithiation, a common drawback in Si‐alloy anodes, leading to severe particle pulverization and the formation of unstable solid‐electrolyte interphase, leading to increasing internal resistance and rapid capacity decay.…”

Crystallography of Active Particles Defining Battery Electrochemistry

“…[ 168 ] Surface coatings are typically metal rich mineral phases; oxides, fluorides and phosphates are common [ 7 ] as well as polymer coatings. [ 169 ] Surface coatings should be multifunctional in their benefits. [ 170 ] Different minerals used as surface coatings provide variable benefits; a review into surface coatings within electrodes undergoing sodium intercalation stated phosphates as beneficial for ionic diffusion, carbon coatings for electronic conductivity and metal oxides for structural stability.…”