Materials Engineering for High Density Energy Storage provides first-hand knowledge about the design of safe and powerful batteries and the methods and approaches for enhancing the performance of next-generation batteries. The book explores how the innovative approaches currently employed, including thin films, nanoparticles and nanocomposites, are paving new ways to performance improvement. The topic's tremendous application potential will appeal to a broad audience, including materials scientists, physicists, electrochemists, libraries, and graduate students.

What are Batteries? Quantities Characterizing Batteries I. PRIMARY BATTERIES The Early Batteries The Zn/C cell: Lechlanché and Gassner Type, Current Zinc/Carbon Cells Alkaline Batteries Button Batteries: HgO Cells, Zn/AgO2 Cells, Zn/air Cells Li Primary Batteries: Li/SOCl2 Cells, Li/SO2 Cells Oxyride Batteries Damage in Primary Batteries Conclusions II SECONDARY BATTERIES Overview of Secondary Batteries: Lead-Acid Cells, Ni/Cd Cells, Secondary Li-ion Cells Cathodes: Introduction, Structural Changes, Next-Generation Materials, Size Effects Anodes for Li-Ion Batteries: Introduction, Instabilities during Electrochemical Cycling, Nanostructures Anodes, Other Materials Theoretical Analysis for Li-Ion Batteries: Introduction, Fracture Mechanism Analysis, Cahn's Gradient Thermodynamics, Design Criteria Conclusions and Future Outlook