Self-healing is the capability of materials to repair themselves after the damage has occurred, usually through the interaction between molecules or chains. Physical and chemical processes are applied for the preparation of self-healing systems. There are different approaches for these systems, such as heterogeneous systems, shape memory effects, hydrogen bonding or covalent–bond interaction, diffusion, and flow dynamics. Self-healing mechanisms can occur in particular through heat and light exposure or through reconnection without a direct effect. The applications of these systems display an increasing trend in both the R&D and industry sectors. Moreover, self-healing systems and their energy storage applications are currently gaining great importance. This review aims to provide general information on recent developments in self-healing materials and their battery applications given the critical importance of self-healing systems for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In the first part of the review, an introduction about self-healing mechanisms and design strategies for self-healing materials is given. Then, selected important healing materials in the literature for the anodes of LIBs are mentioned in the second part. The results and future perspectives are stated in the conclusion section.

This report summarizes the challenges and developments related to the cycle stability of Si anodes. It describes the two‐component material concepts using polymer blends and the approaches to material optimization for more stable Si anodes. Since the anode behavior also depends strongly on the Si particle size (and in polymer mixtures no uniform Si particle size is given), the properties of the Si anodes depending on the Si particle size and the underlying fundamental processes at the solid‐electrolyte interface were described shortly. Bicomponent silicon‐based composites (carbon additives, inorganic nanoparticles and polymers) on the anode behavior were compared by two properties: specific capacity and cycle number of the anodes. This article focuses on Si‐polymer blends where the polymer can act as a binder or/and as a solid‐state electrolyte. To help further the understanding the role of polymer we have gathered together useful data from the literature on solubilities, flexibility and hardness for the polymers generally used. We offer a perspective for polymer hydrogels that will enable a promising material composition for stable Si anodes.