Recent Advancements in the Design of Electrode Materials for Rechargeable Batteries

As the world progresses towards sustainable energy and concomitant decarbonization of its electrical supply, modern civilization is approaching the fourth industrial revolution with a boom of digital devices and innovative technologies. As a result, the demand for high-performance batteries has skyrocketed, and many research initiatives for the design and development of high-performance rechargeable batteries are being taken. With the incremental standardization of battery designs, enhancement in their performance mainly relies on technical advancement in key electrode materials (cathode and anode materials). This chapters reviews the state-of-the-art materials used in fabricating electrodes, including a description of their structures and storage mechanisms and modification of commonly used materials for electrode working either in the solid-state or in the solution for aqueous or non-aqueous electrolytes. Based on the appropriate metrics such as operating voltage, specific energy, capacity, cyclic stability and life cycle, the performance of different electrodes has also been assessed. Along with the recent advancement, pertaining limitations are briefly covered and analyzed with some viable solutions in the pursuit of cathode and anode materials with fast kinetics, high voltage, and long cycle life.

Keywords: Electrode materials, Life cycle, Operating voltage, Rechargeable batteries, Specific energy, Sustainable energy.