Research Progress on Graphene and Its Derivatives in Enhancing the Energy Density of Lithium-Ion Batteries_Vol. 4 No. 2 (JES 2026)_Journal of Engineering System (ISSN: 2959-0604)

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Research Progress on Graphene and Its Derivatives in Enhancing the Energy Density of Lithium-Ion Batteries

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.62517/jes.202602236

Author(s)

Chenrui Wang

Affiliation(s)

North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei, China

Abstract

The improvement of the energy density of lithium-ion batteries is constrained by key bottlenecks such as insufficient electronic conductivity of electrode materials, sluggish ion transport kinetics, and poor cyclic structural stability. Graphene and its derivatives, with their ultra-high electrical conductivity, excellent mechanical flexibility, and enormous specific surface area, provide multi-dimensional solutions to breaking through the aforementioned bottlenecks. This paper systematically reviews the latest research progress of graphene-based materials in enhancing the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, and focuses on analyzing their modification strategies and action mechanisms in silicon-based anodes, high-nickel cathodes, and current collectors/conductive agents. For the modification of silicon-based anodes, graphene can effectively inhibit the volume expansion of silicon and maintain the structural integrity of electrodes by constructing three-dimensional confined coating structures and carrying out synergistic nanoscale design, and typical composite systems are significantly superior to pure silicon anodes. For cathode optimization, thermally reduced graphene oxide (rGO), as a conductive framework, can construct a three-dimensional continuous conductive network that runs through the entire electrode, which increases the lithium-ion diffusion coefficient of high-nickel ternary materials by approximately three times, and significantly improves the rate performance and cycling stability. For the innovation of battery structure, graphene-based flexible current collectors and composite conductive agents increase the volumetric energy density and power density at the system level by reducing interface impedance and decreasing the proportion of inactive materials. This paper further discusses the main challenges faced by graphene-based materials, including high preparation cost, complex dispersion process, and low initial coulombic efficiency, and prospects future development directions such as heteroatom doping, defect engineering, and macro-scale preparation. Graphene and its derivatives are expected to transform from "miracle materials" in laboratories into "cornerstone materials" that drive the breakthrough of lithium-ion battery energy density, and provide core support for new energy vehicles and intelligent energy storage systems.

Keywords

Lithium-Ion Battery; Graphene; Carbon-Based Materials; Energy Density

References

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