The
combination of high voltage cathode and metal or graphite anodes
provides a feasible way for future high-energy batteries. Among various
battery cathodes, lithium cobalt oxide is outstanding for its excellent
cycling performance, high specific capacity, and high working voltage
and has achieved great success in the field of consumer electronics
in the past decades. Recently, demands for smarter, lighter, and longer
standby-time electronic devices have pushed lithium cobalt oxide-based
batteries to their limits. To obtain high voltage batteries, various
methods have been adopted to lift the cutoff voltage of the batteries
above 4.45 V (vs Li/Li+). This review summarizes the mechanism
of capacity decay of lithium cobalt oxide during cycling. Various
modifications to achieve high voltage lithium cobalt oxide, including
coating and doping, are also presented. We also extend the discussion
of popular modification methods for electrolytes including electrolyte
additives, quasi-solid electrolytes, and electrode/electrolyte interfaces.