A Review on High-Capacity and High-Voltage Cathodes for Next-Generation Lithium-ion Batteries

lithium-ion battery (LIB) is at the forefront of energy research. Over four decades of research and development have led electric mobility to a reality. Numerous materials capable of storing lithium reversibly, either as an anode or as a cathode, are reported on a daily basis. But very few among them, such as LiCoO₂, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (Li-NMC) variants (LiNi_0.33Mn_0.33Co_0.33O₂, LiNi_0.5Mn_0.3Co_0.2O₂, LiNi_0.6Mn_0.2Co_0.2O_2,and LiNi_0.8Mn_0.1Co_0.1O₂)_, LiNi_0.8Co_0.15Al_0.05O₂, LiFePO₄, graphite, and Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ are successful at commercial scale. Future energy requirements demand a push in the energy density of LIBs to meet the criteria of electric aviation, power trains, stationary grids, etc. All these applications have different needs which cannot be satisfied by a particular set of materials. Therefore, various materials need to be utilized in widespread fields of battery applications in the near future. This review discusses potential cathode materials that show a capacity of &#x2265; 250 mAh g^-1 (Li-rich oxides, conversion materials, etc.) or average voltage of &#x2265; 4 V <italic>vs.</italic> Li⁺/Li (polyanionic materials, spinel oxides, etc.). Failure mechanisms, challenges, and way-outs to overcome all the issues are put forward to determine commercial viability.