Advanced carbon as emerging energy materials in lithium batteries: A theoretical perspective

Abstract Lithium batteries are becoming increasingly vital thanks to electric vehicles and large‐scale energy storage. Carbon materials have been applied in battery cathode, anode, electrolyte, and separator to enhance the electrochemical performance of rechargeable lithium batteries. Their function...

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Main Authors: Legeng Yu, Xiang Chen, Nan Yao, Yu‐Chen Gao, Yu‐Hang Yuan, Yan‐Bin Gao, Cheng Tang, Qiang Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-05-01
Series:InfoMat
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/inf2.12653
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author Legeng Yu
Xiang Chen
Nan Yao
Yu‐Chen Gao
Yu‐Hang Yuan
Yan‐Bin Gao
Cheng Tang
Qiang Zhang
author_facet Legeng Yu
Xiang Chen
Nan Yao
Yu‐Chen Gao
Yu‐Hang Yuan
Yan‐Bin Gao
Cheng Tang
Qiang Zhang
author_sort Legeng Yu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Lithium batteries are becoming increasingly vital thanks to electric vehicles and large‐scale energy storage. Carbon materials have been applied in battery cathode, anode, electrolyte, and separator to enhance the electrochemical performance of rechargeable lithium batteries. Their functions cover lithium storage, electrochemical catalysis, electrode protection, charge conduction, and so on. To rationally implement carbon materials, their properties and interactions with other battery materials have been probed by theoretical models, namely density functional theory and molecular dynamics. This review summarizes the use of theoretical models to guide the employment of carbon materials in advanced lithium batteries, providing critical information difficult or impossible to obtain from experiments, including lithiophilicity, energy barriers, coordination structures, and species distribution at interfaces. Carbon materials under discussion include zero‐dimensional fullerenes and capsules, one‐dimensional nanotubes and nanoribbons, two‐dimensional graphene, and three‐dimensional graphite and amorphous carbon, as well as their derivatives. Their electronic conductivities are explored, followed by applications in cathode and anode performance. While the role of theoretical models is emphasized, experimental data are also touched upon to clarify background information and show the effectiveness of strategies. Evidently, carbon materials prove promising in achieving superior energy density, rate performance, and cycle life, especially when informed by theoretical endeavors.
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spelling doaj-art-de2f51270de04a97ae48fa46f6faf8b72025-08-20T01:55:27ZengWileyInfoMat2567-31652025-05-0175n/an/a10.1002/inf2.12653Advanced carbon as emerging energy materials in lithium batteries: A theoretical perspectiveLegeng Yu0Xiang Chen1Nan Yao2Yu‐Chen Gao3Yu‐Hang Yuan4Yan‐Bin Gao5Cheng Tang6Qiang Zhang7Tsinghua Center for Green Chemical Engineering Electrification (CCEE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Reaction Engineering and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing the People's Republic of ChinaTsinghua Center for Green Chemical Engineering Electrification (CCEE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Reaction Engineering and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing the People's Republic of ChinaTsinghua Center for Green Chemical Engineering Electrification (CCEE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Reaction Engineering and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing the People's Republic of ChinaTsinghua Center for Green Chemical Engineering Electrification (CCEE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Reaction Engineering and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing the People's Republic of ChinaTsinghua Center for Green Chemical Engineering Electrification (CCEE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Reaction Engineering and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing the People's Republic of ChinaTsinghua Center for Green Chemical Engineering Electrification (CCEE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Reaction Engineering and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing the People's Republic of ChinaTsinghua Center for Green Chemical Engineering Electrification (CCEE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Reaction Engineering and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing the People's Republic of ChinaTsinghua Center for Green Chemical Engineering Electrification (CCEE), Beijing Key Laboratory of Green Chemical Reaction Engineering and Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering Tsinghua University Beijing the People's Republic of ChinaAbstract Lithium batteries are becoming increasingly vital thanks to electric vehicles and large‐scale energy storage. Carbon materials have been applied in battery cathode, anode, electrolyte, and separator to enhance the electrochemical performance of rechargeable lithium batteries. Their functions cover lithium storage, electrochemical catalysis, electrode protection, charge conduction, and so on. To rationally implement carbon materials, their properties and interactions with other battery materials have been probed by theoretical models, namely density functional theory and molecular dynamics. This review summarizes the use of theoretical models to guide the employment of carbon materials in advanced lithium batteries, providing critical information difficult or impossible to obtain from experiments, including lithiophilicity, energy barriers, coordination structures, and species distribution at interfaces. Carbon materials under discussion include zero‐dimensional fullerenes and capsules, one‐dimensional nanotubes and nanoribbons, two‐dimensional graphene, and three‐dimensional graphite and amorphous carbon, as well as their derivatives. Their electronic conductivities are explored, followed by applications in cathode and anode performance. While the role of theoretical models is emphasized, experimental data are also touched upon to clarify background information and show the effectiveness of strategies. Evidently, carbon materials prove promising in achieving superior energy density, rate performance, and cycle life, especially when informed by theoretical endeavors.https://doi.org/10.1002/inf2.12653carbon energy materialsdensity functional theoryelectrode materialslithium batteriesmolecular dynamics
spellingShingle Legeng Yu
Xiang Chen
Nan Yao
Yu‐Chen Gao
Yu‐Hang Yuan
Yan‐Bin Gao
Cheng Tang
Qiang Zhang
Advanced carbon as emerging energy materials in lithium batteries: A theoretical perspective
InfoMat
carbon energy materials
density functional theory
electrode materials
lithium batteries
molecular dynamics
title Advanced carbon as emerging energy materials in lithium batteries: A theoretical perspective
title_full Advanced carbon as emerging energy materials in lithium batteries: A theoretical perspective
title_fullStr Advanced carbon as emerging energy materials in lithium batteries: A theoretical perspective
title_full_unstemmed Advanced carbon as emerging energy materials in lithium batteries: A theoretical perspective
title_short Advanced carbon as emerging energy materials in lithium batteries: A theoretical perspective
title_sort advanced carbon as emerging energy materials in lithium batteries a theoretical perspective
topic carbon energy materials
density functional theory
electrode materials
lithium batteries
molecular dynamics
url https://doi.org/10.1002/inf2.12653
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