Nanoparticles in Li-ion battery electrodes for the automobile sector – A review

This review provides a critical and comparative assessment of nanoparticle-enhanced Li-ion battery electrodes for electric vehicle applications, focusing on performance, manufacturability, cost, and sustainability. It compares anode and cathode materials against automotive benchmarks, including energy density, charge-discharge capability, thermal stability, and cycle life. For anodes, the review examines graphite, nano-silicon architectures, Si-C composites, nanowires, and yolk-shell structures, highlighting the tradeoff between silicon’s 4200 mAh g⁻¹ theoretical capacity and its ~300% volume expansion during lithiation. For cathodes, it evaluates NMC and LFP in terms of rate capability, nickel-content tradeoffs, and interfacial stability under high-voltage cycling. It also compares major synthesis routes, showing that no current method simultaneously satisfies scalability, energy use, cost, and yield requirements. The review further addresses dry processing, green synthesis, life-cycle impacts, and AI/ML-enabled optimization as pathways toward scalable, cost-effective, and sustainable next-generation EV batteries.