The exponential growth in the production of electric vehicles requires an increasing supply of low-cost, high-performance lithium-ion batteries. The increased production of lithium-ion batteries raises concerns over the availability of raw materials, especially cobalt for batteries with nickel-rich cathodes, in which these constraints can impact the high price of cobalt. The reliance on cobalt in these cathodes is worrisome because it is a high-cost, rare material, with an unstable supply chain. This review describes the need and feasibility of developing cobalt-free high-nickel cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The new type of cathode material, LiNi_1−x−yMn_xAl_yO₂ promises a completely cobalt-free composition with almost the same electrochemical performance as that of the conventional high-nickel cathode. Therefore, this new type of cathode needs further research for its commercial applications.

Currently, efforts to address the energy needs of large-scale power applications have expedited the development of sodium–ion (Na–ion) batteries. Transition-metal oxides, including Mn₂O₃, are promising for low-cost, eco-friendly energy storage/conversion. Due to its high theoretical capacity, Mn₂O₃ is worth exploring as an anode material for Na-ion batteries; however, its actual application is constrained by low electrical conductivity and capacity fading. Herein, we attempt to overcome the problems related to Mn₂O₃ with heteroatom-doped reduced graphene oxide (rGO) aerogels synthesised via the hydrothermal method with a subsequent freeze-drying process. The cubic Mn₂O₃ particles with an average size of 0.5–1.5 µm are distributed to both sides of heteroatom-doped rGO aerogels layers. Results indicate that heteroatom-doped rGO aerogels may serve as an efficient ion transport channel for electrolyte ion transport in Mn₂O₃. After 100 cycles, the electrodes retained their capacities of 242, 325, and 277 mAh g⁻¹, for Mn₂O₃/rGO, Mn₂O₃/nitrogen-rGO, and Mn₂O₃/nitrogen, sulphur-rGO aerogels, respectively. Doping Mn₂O₃ with heteroatom-doped rGO aerogels increased its electrical conductivity and buffered volume change during charge/discharge, resulting in high capacity and stable cycling performance. The synergistic effects of heteroatom doping and the three-dimensional porous structure network of rGO aerogels are responsible for their excellent electrochemical performances.

Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ (LTO) is an alternative anode material to substitute commercial graphite for lithium-ion batteries due to its superior long cycle life, small volume change (zero strain), good thermal stability, and relatively high power. In this work, iodide-doped LTO is prepared by solid-state reaction method via ball milling method and subsequently calcined at 750 °C for 10 h in air atmosphere. X-ray diffraction (XRD) of iodide-doped LTO reveals the spinel cubic structure without any impurities detected. The 0.2 mol lithium iodide-doped LTO shows enhanced high-rate capability with a specific discharge capacity of 123.31 mAh g⁻¹ at 15 C. The long cyclic performance of 0.2 mol lithium iodide-doped LTO delivers a specific discharge capacity of 171.19 mAh g⁻¹ at 1 C with a capacity retention of 99.15% after 100 cycles. It shows that the iodide-doped LTO is a promising strategy for preparing a high electrochemical performance of LTO for the anode of lithium-ion batteries.

Lumpur Sidoarjo is one of geothermal fluid types which has a great potential as source of lithium. Adsorption method with Lithium Manganese Oxide (LiMn2O4) as an adsorbent has been chosen for lithium recovery process due to low production cost and environmental friendly. LiMn2O4 was synthesized by hydrothermal method at 200 °C for 24 hrs, 48 hrs, and 72 hrs. As prepared LiMn2O4 powder is treated by acid treatment with 0.5 M HCl solution for 24 hrs. XRD test result reveals that all of as-prepared samples are indexed as spinel structure of LiMn2O4 (JCPDS card no 35-0782) with no impurity peaks detected. SEM images show that LiMn2O4 has nanoparticles morphology with particle size around 25 nm. The highest adsorption efficiency of adsorbent is obtained by sample hydrothermal for 72 hrs with 42.76%.