• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.77-92
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• 2021

The energy density of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) determines the mileage of electric vehicles. For increasing the energy density of LIBs, it is necessary to develop high-capacity active materials that can store more lithium ions within constrained weight. The rapid progress made in cathode technology has realized the utilization of the near-theoretical capacity of cathode materials. In contrast, commercial LIBs have still exploited graphite as active material in anodes since the 1990s. The most promising way to increase anodes' capacity is to mix high-capacity and long-cycle-life silicon oxides (SiOx) with graphite. However, the low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) of SiOx limits its content below 15 wt%, impeding the capacity increase in anodes. To address this issue, various prelithiation techniques have been proposed, which can improve the ICE of high-capacity anode materials. In this review paper, we introduce the principles and expected effects of prelithiation techniques reported so far. According to the reaction mechanisms, the strategies are categorized. Mainly, we focus on the recent progress of solution-based chemical prelithiation methods with commercial viability, of which lithiation reaction occurs homogeneously at liquid-solid interfaces. We believe that developing a cost-effective and mass-scalable prelithiation process holds the key to dominating the anode market for next-generation LIBs.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.90-99
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• 2022

Owing to the rising concern of global warming, lithium-ion batteries have gained immense attention over the past few years for the development of highly efficient electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems. In this study, alpha-phase VOPO₄·2H₂O with nanosheet morphology was prepared via a facile hydrothermal method for application in high-performance lithium-ion batteries. The X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses indicated that the obtained sample had an alpha-2 (αII) phase, and the nanosheet morphology of the sample was confirmed using SEM. The lithium-ion battery with VOPO₄·2H₂O as the anode exhibited excellent long-term cycle life and a high capacity of 256.7 mAh g^-1 at room temperature. Prelithiation effectively improved the specific capacity of pristine VOPO₄·2H₂O. The underlying electrochemical mechanisms were investigated by carrying out AC impedance, rate capability, and other instrumental analyses.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.321-321
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• 2022

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2021

Through a simple filtration process, followed by carbonization within a reductive environment, coffee waste grounds can be transformed into a non-porous hard carbon for use in multiple contexts. This resulting coffee-waste carbon has been evaluated as an eco-friendly and cost-effective replacement for conventional graphite. When compared with different types of carbon, our study found that the coffee-waste carbon fell into the category of hard carbon, as verified from the galvanostatic charge/discharge profiles. The coffee-waste carbon showed a superior rate capability when compared to that of graphite, while compromising smaller capacity at low C rates. During electrochemical reactions, it was also found that the coffee-waste carbon is well exposed to electrolytes, and its disordered characteristic is advantageous for ionic transport which leads to the low tortuosity of Li ions. Finally, the high irreversible capacity (low initial Coulombic efficiency) of the coffee-waste carbon, which if also often observed in amorphous carbon, can be adequately resolved through a solution-based prelithiation process, thereby proving that the coffee-waste carbon material is quite suitable for commercial use as an anode material for quickly-chargeable electrodes.