Lithium-ion batteries are efficient energy storage devices that have transformed personal electronics and enabled the market introduction of electric vehicles. However, the ever-growing energy storage industry imposes great demands that current lithium-ion batteries are unable to meet.
Several post lithium-ion battery approaches exist that offer high-energy and long-life storage capability but also face tremendous challenges in their realization. In particular, many aspects of the fundamental science of battery processes, which hold the key for further development of future batteries, are still poorly understood.
This Focus discusses four post lithium-ion batteries – lithium-air, lithium-sulfur, lithium-metal and solid-state – and highlights advances for each of them in the fundamental understanding of those processes that govern battery operation and performance limitations.
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