Exploring Niobium oxide-based materials for fast-charging lithium-ion anodes: Insights from structure to property

The concomitant environmental issues related to the consumption of fossil fuels underscore the significance of accelerating the global electrification. However, the shift towards electrification increases the demands for greater energy density, charging speeds, and safety in electrical energy storage systems such as lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In pursuit of this goal, one branch of LIBs’ anode research has focused on niobium oxide-based materials, which allow rapid lithium transport within their crystal structures. Although several review articles have offered an overview of the development of niobium oxide-based anode materials, a comprehensive understanding of the correlation between their structure and unique electrochemical property is still lacking. This review explores the intricate crystal structural chemistry of the niobium-oxide system, exploring the structural correlation between niobium pentoxide and its analogues and examining their structure-related electrochemical behaviors and lithium storage mechanism. It also highlights engineering strategies to improve the rate capability of these materials, along with recent advancements in the field. Additionally, this review outlines future research directions and challenges to bridge the gap to practical applications. The goal is to offer fresh perspectives on rational design of more efficient niobium oxide-based electrode materials and beyond, emphasizing both engineering and structural aspects to accelerate their application in fast-charging batteries.