Surfactant-Assisted Pseudocapacitive Materials for Li-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are broadly accustomed in many electrical devices, such as electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). The selection of Li-based pseudocapacitive materials in LIBs has become the main focus of numerous research efforts to commercialize LIBs with great features, including good environmental compatibility, low-cost consumption, and most importantly, great electrochemical properties (capacity, open-circuit voltage, rate capability, life cycle, energy density, and power density). Unfortunately, the pseudocapacitive materials are not capable of standing alone without any external supportive materials due to their downsides, which are low electronic conductivity, low Li ion diffusivity, and poor cycling stability. Therefore, surfactants, also known as surface-active agents, are introduced in the active materials of LIBs to develop excellent electrochemical performance, as successfully presented in many reported articles. The properties of surfactants can promote a strong interaction between the particles with the advantages of physical captivity and chemical encapsulation, which enable adjusting the performance stability of Li-based pseudocapacitive materials. Herein, we disclose in detail the synthesis methods and structural morphology involved in achieving the high electrochemical performance of LIBs based on surfactant-assisted pseudocapacitive materials perspectives.