Advances in Li-ion Batteries

Efficient and durable electrical energy storage is one of the major factors limiting the wide-spread adoption of renewable energy. Since lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) were first commercialized in the early 1990s, LIBs have emerged as an important energy storage device for portable electronics. LIBs are very desirable because of their high energy storage per volume and per mass. However, LIBs with high energy and power as well as higher stability are needed for their use in a variety of energy storage applications such as MEMS devices, PDA, plug-in hybrids, all-electric vehicles and large scale utility systems. In this talk, I will discuss present energy perspective, especially energy storage and its role in renewable energy. After that I will discuss the recent advances in nanostructured materials and interface engineering that have led to the achievement of improved Li-ion batteries. Finally I will talk aboutcritical issues that need to be addressed to obtain further improvements in Li-ion batteries.