Applications of Nanotechnology: lithium-ion based batteries in electric vehicles

Abstract

With the benefit of zero emissions, free noise and stable operation, the electrical vehicle market has grown dramatically. More expectations are raised for electric vehicles to achieve a better user experience of long-range, long-lifespan and time-saving charging. Thus the capacity, cycling ability and rate capability of electric vehicle batteries are aimed to be improved. Since the advent of nanotechnology, it has made great contributions to various industries and is also believed to be a breakthrough in battery performance. This article introduced nanotechnologies, summarised and discussed its application that could improve lithium-ion-based electric vehicle battery performance. Three typical commercialised cathode materials (Lithium Manganese Oxide (LMO), Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide (NMC), and Lithium Nickel Cobalt Aluminium Oxide (NCA)) suffer capacity fading due to lattice distortion, ion dissolution, and electrolyte decomposition, which can be mitigated by nano-doping, nanocoating, and special nanostructure to certain extents. Two promising anode materials (Lithium titanate (LTO) and silicon) face problems of poor electrical conductivity and volumetric expansion during cycling. Nanotechnologies provide solutions that greatly accelerate their commercialisation. In the future, quantitative composition manipulation is the key point to further promoting cathode material performance. And anode materials still need to be improved to be genuinely used in life. This article combines nanotechnology with the electric vehicle industry and provides innovative ideas for their development.