Stepping into the 21st century, “graphene fever” swept the world due to the discovery of graphene, made of single-layer carbon atoms with a hexagonal lattice. This wonder material displays impressive material properties, such as its electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength, and it also possesses unique optical and magnetic properties. Many researchers see graphene as a game changer for boosting the performance of various applications. Emerging consumer electronics and electric vehicle technologies require advanced battery systems to enhance their portability and driving range, respectively. Therefore, graphene seems to be a great candidate material for application in high-energy-density/high-power-density batteries. The “graphene battery”, combining two Nobel Prize-winning concepts, is also frequently mentioned in the news and articles all over the world. This review paper introduces how graphene can be adopted in Li-ion/Li metal battery components, the designs of graphene-enhanced battery materials, and the role of graphene in different battery applications.
In recent years, the development of advanced batteries aimed at new materials and solid-state battery systems, and the mainstream electrode design was based on a simple planar electrode stacking structure. However, emerging applications require batteries with both high energy density and high power density, which is impossible to be realized in traditional battery designs. In general, high power battery design will lead to low energy density, and vice versa. Developing innovative battery architecture can be a feasible means to solve this issue. 3D batteries possess not only fast charge-discharge feature inherited from thin-film batteries but also improve their energy density by elongating electrode structure without increasing the transport distance of electrons and ions. Since the processing methods of 3D batteries are highly related to those of semiconductor devices, it would be streamlined to integrate 3D batteries with microelectromechanical systems or self-powered chips. This review article will introduce the mechanisms, structural designs, manufacturing processes, classic design examples, and future prospects of 3D batteries.
The demand for energy increases steadily with time due to population and economic growth and advances in lifestyle. As energy usage increases, concerns about environmental pollution associated with the use of fossil fuel are becoming serious. To mitigate these issues and reduce our dependence on fossil fuel, alternative energy technologies based on renewable sources need to be developed and adopted, e.g., solar and wind energies. However, solar and wind energies are intermittent; therefore, it is critical for efficient and economical storage of electricity produced by renewable sources to be competitive.1 Rechargeable batteries are one of the most viable options for electrical energy storage (EES). Rechargeable battery systems, such as lead−acid, nickel−cadmium, nickel metal hydride, and lithium ion batteries, have serviced humankind for over a century with their use in a variety of applications, e.g., portable electronic devices and automobiles. As the functionalities of the portable electronics become more sophisticated and the demand for electric vehicles and storage of electricity from renewable sources increases, advanced rechargeable batteries need to be developed. Cost, energy, power, cycle life, safety, and environmental compatibility are some of the most important parameters to be considered.
