Nanoscale anodes for rechargeable batteries: Fundamentals and design principles

Abstract This chapter introduces the fundamental understanding of anode materials designed for rechargeable batteries and the corresponding nanoscale designs. In each section of different types of anodes including the intercalation, insertion, alloying, and conversion, it starts by briefly covering charge storage mechanism inside the anodes as taking an example of representative anodes for each type. It then explains the confronting challenges to be employed in the practical battery during normal or extreme operations such as microstructural changes, interfacial film stability, charge storage reversibility, round-trip energy efficiency, fast-charging ability, and a cycle life of the battery. By the end of each section, it provides design rationales such as structural (or morphological), void (or porosity) engineering, and hybridization methods from the classical to recent perspectives.