Nanosized advanced materials for application in lithium-ion batteries

Lithium ion batteries are popular worldwide as power sources for wireless portable electronic devices. Intensive efforts are under way to further improve the technol. on the sides of performances, costs, environmental compatibility and safety. The aim of this effort is the open up of the application market of the Li-ion cells to new challenging fields (e.g. Automotive, green energy storage). "Going nano" has been shown to play a crit. role in the field of lithium-ion batteries. The reduced dimensions of the active cathode or anode materials allow increased lithium diffusion, enhanced electron transport, enlarged electrolyte wetting surfaces and modified lithium insertion thermodn. due to the relevant surface effects on chem. potentials. In this communication three examples of the use of innovative nanosized materials in Li-ion batteries are presented: (a) TiO2-based anodes; (b) LiCoPO4-based cathodes and (c) MgH2-based conversion anodes.