Learn from nature: Bio-inspired structure design for lithium-ion batteries

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries have exerted great influence on our daily life as important power supply. However, lithium-ion batteries suffer from critical challenges, including dendrite effect and insufficient ion kinetics, which lead to low efficiency and poor cycling. Bio-inspired structures, directly learned from nature, have some special characteristics with good mechanical properties, including large surface area, numerous active sites, and ion channels. The large surface area can accommodate more ions, and active sites facilitate intermediate conversion. The well-designed ion channels are beneficial to ion migration, and then greatly promote charge–discharge processes. Here, we summarize typical bio-inspired structures for lithium-ion batteries, discuss influence of these structures on battery performance. Based on the theoretical analysis and our experimental experience, we highlight the design requirement of bio-inspired structures to enable battery devices with high power density and stable cycling life. Finally, perspectives on existing issues in the filed have been made for future directions. (Figure presented.).