Polymer-derived ceramics as anode material for rechargeable Li-ion batteries: a review

Lithium ion batteries (LIB) is currently the most promising of all battery technologies for efficient storage of electrical energy and powering of electric vehicles. However, the ongoing LIB research faces multiple issues pertaining to materials, cost and safety. One of the major factors that dictate the performance of LIB is its electrode's Li-storage (anode/cathode) capacity, cycleability and efficiency. In this article, the authors evaluate the recent experimental progress made in LIB anode materials prepared from polymer-derived ceramics (PDC). PDCs have several unique characteristics that differentiate them from other conventional carbon or silicon-based anodes. Most notably PDCs exhibit high chemical and thermodynamic stability under adverse operational conditions. Learnings from the analysis of experimental observations can be carried forward to design advanced PDCs, thereby improving overall performance of the battery, particularly for automotive applications.