Advances in and prospects of nanomaterials’ morphological control for lithium rechargeable batteries

The Li rechargeable battery is currently the dominant energy storage technology, with much progress made over the past 30 years and bright prospects in the years to come. Nanoscience has opened up new possibilities for Li rechargeable battery research, enhancing materials’ properties and enabling new chemistries. Morphological control is the key to the rich toolbox of nanotechnology. It has had a major impact on the properties and performance of the nanomaterials designed for Li rechargeable batteries. Herein we discuss the principles of morphological control of nanomaterials and analyze the effects of morphological control on different Li rechargeable battery chemistries, emphasizing the pros and cons of different morphologies, the challenges of nanomaterial-based batteries, and their commercialization potential. Finally, we conclude with promising strategies for further advancing the Li rechargeable battery field using morphologically controlled nanomaterials.