The structure evolution of fluorinated graphite(CFx) upon the Li/Na intercalation has been studied by firstprinciples calculations. The Li/Na adsorption on single CF layer and intercalated into bulk CF have been calculated. The better cycling performance of Na intercalation into the CF cathode, comparing to that of Li intercalation, is attributed to the different strength and characteristics of the Li-F and Na-F interactions. The interactions between Li and F are stronger and more localized than those between Na and F. The strong and localized Coulomb attraction between Li and F atoms breaks the C—F bonds and pulls the F atoms away, and graphene sheets are formed upon Li intercalation.
The physics of ionic and electrical conduction at electrode materials of lithium-ion batteries （LIBs） are briefly sum marized here, besides, we review the current research on ionic and electrical conduction in electrode material incorporating experimental and simulation studies. Commercial LIBs have been widely used in portable electronic devices and are now developed for large-scale applications in hybrid electric vehicles （HEV） and stationary distributed power stations. However, due to the physical limits of the materials, the overall performance of today＇s LIBs does not meet all the requirements for future applications, and the transport problem has been one of the main barriers to further improvement. The electron and Li-ion transport behaviors are important in determining the rate capacity of LIBs.
The physics that associated with the performance of lithium secondary batteries(LSB)are reviewed.The key physical problems in LSB include the electronic conduction mechanism,kinetics and thermodynamics of lithium ion migration,electrode/electrolyte surface/interface,structural(phase)and thermodynamics stability of the electrode materials,physics of intercalation and deintercalation.The relationship between the physical/chemical nature of the LSB materials and the batteries performance is summarized and discussed.A general thread of computational materials design for LSB materials is emphasized concerning all the discussed physics problems.In order to fasten the progress of the new materials discovery and design for the next generation LSB,the Materials Genome Initiative(MGI)for LSB materials is a promising strategy and the related requirements are highlighted.
From first principle calculations, we demonstrate that LiXS_2（X = Ga, In） compounds have potential applications as cathode materials for Li ion batteries. It is shown that Li can be extracted from the LiXS_2 lattice with relatively small volume change and the XS_4 tetrahedron structure framework remains stable upon delithiation. The theoretical capacity and average intercalation potential of the LiGaS_2（LiInS_2） cathode are 190.4（144._2） m Ah/g and 3.50 V（3.53 V）. The electronic structures of the LiXS_2 are insulating with band gaps of _2.88 eV and 1.99 eV for X = Ga and In, respectively.However, Li vacancies, which are formed through delithiation, change the electronic structure substantially from insulating to metallic structure, indicating that the electrical conductivities of the LiXS_2 compounds should be good during cycling.Li ion migration energy barriers are also calculated, and the results show that Li ion diffusions in the LiXS_2 compounds can be as good as those in the currently widely used electrode materials.
