Towards high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries: Strategies for developing high-capacity lithium-rich cathode materials

With the growing demand for high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries, layered lithium-rich cathode materials with high specific capacity and low cost have been widely regarded as one of the most attractive candidates for next-generation lithium-ion batteries. However, issues such as voltage decay, capacity loss and sluggish reaction kinetics have hindered their further commercialization for decades. Intensive investigations have been devoted to developing high-performance lithium-rich cathode materials, highlighting the importance of improvement strategies as a potential approach. Herein, we summarize various strategies for improving performances of layered lithium-rich cathode materials for next-generation high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. These include surface engineering, elemental doping, composition optimization, structure engineering and electrolyte additives, with emphasis on the effect and functional mechanism of corresponding techniques. In the subsequent section, we illustrate opportunities and challenges for designing high-performance lithium-rich cathode materials and bridging the gap between the laboratory and practical applications.