Lithium‐Ion Batteries

The emergence of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) has greatly accelerated the conversion from nonrenewable fossil energy to renewable clean energy. Due to their high energy density and high output voltage, LIBs have been used as the power supply for portable devices, e.g. mobile phones, laptops, and watches. This chapter summarizes the amazing progress made in material science regarding advanced LIBs and introduces the essential cathode and anode materials that possess attractive practical potential. High output voltage could induce permanent structural changes in the cathode materials, thereby compromising the electromechanical stability and decreasing the operational lifetime of the LIB. The chemistry of the electrolyte and the physical and chemical properties of the anode surface significantly influence the thickness and chemical composition of the solid electrolyte interface. The most difficult challenge for the wide application of LIBs in electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage systems is thermal runaway and explosion of inferior LIBs in the system.