ELECTRODE MATERIALS FOR RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERIES

Miniaturization in electronics and vapid advances in portable devices demand lightweight, compact, high-energy density batteries. Lithium ba tteries offer several advantages such as higher cell voltage, higher e nergy density, and longer shelf life as compared to other rechargeable systems. Although the rocking-chair concept of utilizing insertion co mpounds as both cathode and anode hosts has made the rechargeable lith ium batteries a commercial reality, cost and environmental considerati ons require the development of inexpensive electrode hosts stich as ma nganese oxides for consumer applications. Innovative synthesis and pro cessing procedures (including low-temperature, solution-based synthesi s approaches to obtain amorphous and nanocrystalline oxide electrode h osts) play a key role in developing ne io as well as better-performing known electrode materials.