Abstract
Transitioning to electrified transport requires improvements in sustainability, energy density, power density, lifetime, and approved the cost of lithium-ion batteries, with significant opportunities remaining in the development of next-generation cathodes. This presents a highly complex, multiparameter optimization challenge, where developments in cathode chemical design and discovery, theoretical and experimental understanding, structural and morphological control, synthetic approaches, and cost reduction strategies can deliver performance enhancements required in the near- and longer-term. This multifaceted challenge requires an interdisciplinary approach to solve, which has seen the establishment of numerous academic and industrial consortia around the world to focus on cathode development. One such example is the Next Generation Lithium-ion Cathode Materials project, FutureCat, established by the UK’s Faraday Institution for electrochemical energy storage research in 2019, aimed at developing our understanding of existing and newly discovered cathode chemistries. Here, we present our perspective on persistent fundamental challenges, including protective coatings and additives to extend lifetime and improve interfacial ion transport, the design of existing and the discovery of new cathode materials where cation and cation-plus-anion redox-activity can be exploited to increase energy density, the application of earth-abundant elements that could ultimately reduce costs, and the delivery of new electrode topologies resistant to fracture which can extend battery lifetime.
Highlights
Electric-vehicle (EV) batteries presage a step change from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric motors, offering lower running costs and reduced carbon emissions
For the progression of Li-ion performance, cathode materials improvements are needed to achieve targets such as EV ranges in excess of 300 miles and high-rate capability for rapid recharging to 80% capacity and to achieve cost parity with ICE vehicles
Much can still be done in terms of the sustainability of the raw materials required, improved yields and lower energy processing through alternative synthesis routes, and improved recyclability and use of recycled raw materials
Summary
Electric-vehicle (EV) batteries presage a step change from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric motors, offering lower running costs and reduced carbon emissions. A multi-objective approach to the development of cathode materials is necessary to holistically streamline the design, synthesis, processing, and scale-up of lithium-ion batteries Efforts to address these challenges have seen the establishment of vibrant research consortia around the world, including the Faraday Institution FutureCat project in the UK, to pioneer the discovery and development of new cathode materials. Key advances in individual areas of study must be used to drive forward progress in all areas through a shared knowledge and expertise In this perspective, we set out what we see as the challenges related to the most mature next-generation cathode materials, high nickel content layered metal oxides, disordered rock salts, and spinels, along with design principles that we suggest are important to consider when establishing new cathode chemistries based on green, earth-abundant minerals. We envision that this combined approach will enable a step change in cathode performance that supports the decarbonization of our energy and transport systems
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