Li-free Cathode Materials for High Energy Density Lithium Batteries

Abstract

Conversion-type cathode materials, such as transition metal halides, chalcogenides, and oxides, demonstrate high operational voltages and high specific capacities, offering high energy densities for rechargeable lithium-metal batteries. In this review, a series of low-cost, environmentally benign, and high energy density Li-free cathode materials are selected based on thermodynamic calculations. Coupled with Li/C anodes, these cathodes (e.g., S, FeF 3 , CuF 2 , FeS 2 , and MnO 2 ) have the potential to offer energy densities of 1,000-1,600 Wh kg À1 and 1,500-2,200 Wh L À1 at the cell level. Their main challenges, including capacity fading, high voltage hysteresis, large volume change, and parasitic reactions with electrolytes, are discussed. Strategies to circumvent these issues based on the state-of-the-art technologies are summarized. It seems that all of these challenges are able to be solved. We believe that with the development of practical Li-metal-based anodes and solid-state electrolytes, conversion-type cathodes have a promising future for the next-generation high energy density energy storage devices.

Hollow CuS Nanoboxes as Li‐Free Cathode for High‐Rate and Long‐Life Lithium Metal Batteries

“…LMBs can utilize metallic lithium as anodes and therefore offer the opportunity to use Li‐free materials as cathodes. A variety of Li‐free cathodes are considered as promising candidates to supplant Li‐containing cathodes to match lithium metal anode, for their high theoretical energy density, low cost, abundant resources, easy preparation, and eco‐benignity …”

“…A variety of Li-free cathodes are considered as promising candidates to supplant Li-containing cathodes to match lithium metal anode, [7] for their high theoretical energy density, low cost, abundant resources, easy preparation, and eco-benignity. [8] As one of the most important Li-free conversion-type cathodes, elemental sulfur cathode has attracted overwhelming attention for its high theoretical specific capacity (1672 mAh g −1 ) and high specific energy (2500 Wh kg −1 ). [9] However, the lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries suffer from a complicated phase-transition mechanism which undergoes a transformation from solid (sulfur) to liquid (polysulfides) and back to solid (lithium sulfide).…”

Shaping the Contact between Li Metal Anode and Solid‐State Electrolytes

“…Therefore, new electrode materials and the corresponding electrochemical systems that allow for higher energy density are strongly desirable. [ 7–10 ] Li metal anode (LMA) has recently gained extensive attention again due to its lowest potential (−3.04 V vs standard hydrogen electrode) and high specific capacity (3861 mAh g −1 ). [ 11–14 ] However, the main challenges, such as dendrite growth and serious side reactions in liquid organic electrolyte, still remain.…”

Perspective on Commercial Li-ion Battery Testing, Best Practices for Simple and Effective Protocols

“…To match this demand, battery technology must improve year after year. To be more than incremental, such improvement could take the form of disruptive battery technologies [2,3] and, equally as important, the form of improved battery management systems with innovative control strategies to enable more efficient and safer battery packs. The latter topic is attracting enormous amount a research and a wide variety of algorithms have been proposed in recent years [4][5][6][7][8] for state-of-charge (SOC) and state-of-health (SOH) tracking.…”