Challenges of prelithiation strategies for next generation high energy lithium-ion batteries

To improve the energy density of lithium ion batteries (LIBs), one of the most commonly used strategy is developing novel anode materials with higher specific capacity than graphite-based anode materials. However, due to their huge volume expansion during lithiation/delithiation and unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI), these high capacity anode materials always possess low initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and poor cycling performances. Encouragingly, varied prelithiation strategies have been developed to compensate the high initial active lithium loss at anode. In this review, we systematically and comprehensively examine the evolution of varied prelithiation strategies. The concentrated point is why most of present prelithiation strategies is not suitable for large-scale applications: what's their advantages, disadvantages, and future research direction. This review is critical, and aims to provide meaningful perspectives for the future development of prelithiation strategies toward commercial and practical applications.