Negative Electrodes in Lithium Systems

Abstract

Several types of lithium batteries are used in a variety of commercial products, and are produced in very large numbers. According to various reports, the sales volume in 2008 is approximately 10 billion dollars per year, and it is growing rapidly. Most of these products are now used in relatively small electronic devices, but there is also an extremely large potential market if lithium systems can be developed sufficiently to meet the requirements for hybrid, or even plug-in hybrid, vehicles. As might be expected, there is currently a great deal of interest in the possibility of the development of improved lithium batteries in both the scientific and technological communities. An important part of this activity is aimed at the improvement of the positive electrode component of lithium cells, where improvements can have large impacts upon the overall cell performance.