Abstract:

Extensive research activities have been directed to develop flexible rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with large capacity, high power, and long cycling life. Template technology offers the benefits in terms of either designing new-type electrode materials or modifying traditional battery configurations. With the aid of “hard” or “soft” templates, a variety of functional materials with diverse structures and morphologies such as one-dimensional (1D) nanostructures, 2D films, and 3D porous frameworks have been synthesized. This review highlights the recent progress in the template-prepared electrode materials for lithium storage, mainly focusing on the Li⁺ intercalation reactions and the Li conversion properties with the nanostructures of LiCoO₂, C, SnO₂, Fe₂O₃, Co₃O₄, VO_x, and MnO₂. In some specifically demonstrated examples, the templated cathode materials (e.g., lithium metal oxides) show significantly improved reversibility and high rate capability over a voltage of 3 V after 100 cycles, whereas the templated anode materials (e.g., metal oxides) can deliver high capacity exceeding 1000 mA h g⁻¹. The structural and morphological merits of the template-directed materials have been especially addressed in comparison with their traditional bulk forms.