Recent advances in liquid and polymer lithium-ion batteries

New types of electrode and electrolyte materials have been investigated and characterized in our laboratory. These include high capacity lithium–tin alloys, high-rate lithium titanium oxide and high conductivity gel-type, polymer electrolytes. The results obtained, collected in this article, demonstrate that these materials may be combined for the development of new types of liquid and polymer lithium-ion batteries having impressive features in terms of capacity, stability, high rates and, particularly, safety. Taking this into consideration, these batteries appear suitable power sources for electric or hybrid vehicles.