Abstract:
Attapulgite is a natural silicate mineral with a one−dimensional nanorod−like structure, large specific surface area, plentiful active sites and excellent thermal stability. Its porous structure facilitates both ion transport and volume buffering, showing promising application prospects in key components of lithium batteries. Attapulgite exhibits unique advantages in mainstream energy storage systems such as lithium−ion and lithium−sulfur batteries. Its excellent physical and chemical properties make it well−suited for composite modification of battery materials, and it can improve battery performance in electrodes, separators and electrolytes. It boasts abundant reserves, low cost and eco−friendly characteristics. Through modification methods such as acid, alkali, and organic modifications, its pore structure can be effectively optimized and the number of active sites can be increased, thereby further enhancing its functional properties. The performance mechanisms of attapulgite in key components of lithium−ion batteries, such as electrodes, separators, and electrolytes, are comprehensively analyzed. As a cathode material for lithium batteries, attapulgite serves as a carrier, suppressing the shuttle effect of lithium−sulfur batteries and improving cycling stability; as an anode material, attapulgite has a pore structure that can accommodate the volume expansion of silicon and optimize electrochemical performance; as a separator material, attapulgite significantly enhances the thermal stability, mechanical strength, and electrolyte wettability; as a functional filler material for electrolytes, attapulgite can improve ionic conductivity and mechanical properties. In−depth research on attapulgite energy storage materials, which hold both theoretical significance and application prospects, can provide valuable references for the development of green energy storage materials. By studying their structure and electrochemical performance, it is expected that the performance of lithium battery components can be enhanced, thereby paving the way for next−generation, low−cost, high−performance energy storage device materials such as lithium batteries.