Element‐Engineered Lithium Borate for High‐Efficiency Prelithiation in Silicon‐Based Lithium‐Ion Batteries

C Chao‐Fan Gu (CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Beijing 100190 P. R. China) X Xin Chang (School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin University) S Shuhao Xiao (CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Beijing P. R. China) Z Zi‐Yi Zhou (CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Beijing 100190 P. R. China) C Chen Li (Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.) B Boheng Yuan (CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, CAS research/Education Center for Excel-Lence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS)) Q Qinghai Meng (CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, CAS research/Education Center for Excel-Lence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS)) Y Yu‐Guo Guo (CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Beijing P. R. China)

Abstract

Abstract Enhancing the energy density of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) remains a critical challenge for advancing next‐generation energy storage technologies. Silicon‐based anodes offer significantly higher theoretical capacitites, but their practical application is hindered by low initial coulombic efficiency (ICE), leading to substantial lithium loss and rapid full cell performance degradation. Herein, a novel prelithiation agent, lithium borate (LBO), based on the ultralight, cost‐effective, and d‐orbital‐free non‐metallic element boron (B) is presented. LBO features a core–shell architecture, consisting of a crystalline Li 3 BO 3 core encapsulated by Li 2 CO 3 and amorphous carbon, delivering an exceptional initial charge capacity of 692 mAh g −1 and superior atmospheric stability with 70% capacity retention after 8 days of ambient exposure. When applied in SiO x ||LRLO (Li‐rich layered oxide) pouch cells, LBO enhances the gravimetric and volumetric energy density by 14.7% and 21.8%, respectively, while effectively suppressing the irreversible LRLO degradation caused by Li deficiency. This work introduces an element‐centric design methodology for prelithiation agents, providing a promising route to propel the development of high‐energy‐density LIBs.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 37, Issue 40
Published October 01, 2025
ISSN 0935-9648
Publisher Unknown Publisher

Journal Info

Advanced Materials

Unknown Publisher

ISSN: 0935-9648 Physical Sciences

Authors (8)

C

Chao‐Fan Gu

CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Beijing 100190 P. R. China

X

Xin Chang

School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin University

S

Shuhao Xiao

CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Beijing P. R. China

Z

Zi‐Yi Zhou

CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Beijing 100190 P. R. China

C

Chen Li

Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.

B

Boheng Yuan

CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, CAS research/Education Center for Excel-Lence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS)

Q

Qinghai Meng

CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology, CAS research/Education Center for Excel-Lence in Molecular Sciences, Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS)

Y

Yu‐Guo Guo

CAS Key Laboratory of Molecular Nanostructure and Nanotechnology Beijing National Laboratory For Molecular Sciences (BNLMS) Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Beijing P. R. China