Structural Strategies for Germanium-Based Anode Materials to Enhance Lithium Storage

Recently, germanium (Ge) has been arousing increasing interest as an anode for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) and other energy storage devices due to its high theoretical capacity (1600 mAh g⁻¹) and low operating voltage. There are still some critical problems to be solved before Ge can meet the high requirements for practical applications. In this Review, a series of attempts on rational design and synthesis of Ge-based anode materials during the past few years are summarized. Structural and composition strategies that could resolve the issue of vast volume changes in Ge during cycling and enhance their electrochemical properties are focused on. The main strategies include designing nanostructures and forming Ge-based composites and Ge-based alloys. Lastly, the challenges for practical implementation of Ge anodes within the context of current LIB systems are discussed.