![]() Morphological control of the cathode structure can enhance the capacity and longevity of batteries, including the development of gradient compositions to counteract operationally induced cation migration as well as the production of hierarchical assemblies to fine tune the shape and size of cathode particles for optimal performance. Materials discovery can now be driven by the application of computational structure searching to amplify the value of experimental work. 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. A multi-objective approach to the development of cathode materials is therefore necessary to holistically streamline the design, synthesis, processing, and scale-up of lithium-ion batteries. Cathode formulations also often comprise low-abundancy transition metals (TMs) that are costly and may pose ethical concerns in the supply chain. ![]() Cathode materials exhibit lower capacity relative to current commercially applied anode materials and therefore represent a limiting factor for electrochemical performance. Lithium-ion systems provide the highest specific energy density of current battery technologies however, the cathode contributes substantially to both the cost and mass of the assembled unit. Transformative cathode technology must meet a range of specifications, including higher capacity and power, longer first-lifetime, safer construction, sustainable sourcing of materials, lower cost, and greener manufacturing processes. Next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) will be largely driven by technological innovations in the cathode that will enable higher energy densities and also present opportunities for cost reduction since cathode materials remain the bottleneck to cost parity. 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.Įlectric-vehicle (EV) batteries presage a step change from internal combustion engines (ICE) to electric motors, offering lower running costs and reduced carbon emissions. 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. 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. 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. 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. Cussen Perspectives for next generation lithium-ion battery cathode materials. West, Laura Wheatcroft, Megan Wilson, Li Zhang, Xuan Zhi, Bonan Zhu, Serena A. MacManus-Driscoll, Xabier Martínez De Irujo Labalde, Innes McClelland, Kirstie McCombie, Beth Murdock, Debasis Nayak, Seungkyu Park, Gabriel E. Cussen, Venkateswarlu Daramalla, Michael De Volder, Siân E. Baker, Rebecca Boston, Hugo Bronstein, Simon J.
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