High-performance rechargeable batteries are essential for a wide variety of applications including portable electronics, electric vehicles, grid-level energy storage, and defense purposes. To realize the next-generation advanced energy storage, it is critical to develop novel electrode materials with high capacity to increase energy density, as well as power density, long cycle life, low cost and high safety. Various electrode materials with high capacity have been identified, such as lithium, silicon, sulfur and oxygen. However, their high capacity is always undermined by significant challenges. For example, dendrite formation threatens the overall battery safety, and volume expansion compromises their cycle life. High-capacity electrode materials can be categorized in different groups (e.g. Li/Na, Mg/Al, S/Se) based on their electrochemical properties and reaction mechanism. Electrode materials in each group show similar behaviors and challenges but also present important differences. Comparative studies of these materials could help us in deeply understanding the reaction nature and provide new insights into solution to these challenges.

The goal of this symposium is to create a forum to directly compare similarities and differences among these high-capacity electrode materials and inspire new methods and approaches to address challenges in their designs. To fulfill such goal, the symposium will be organized based on their reaction mechanisms and the positions of key elements in these electrodes in the periodic table. Electrode materials sharing similar reaction mechanism will be grouped together. The symposium will focus on comparison of not only experimental results, but also computational approaches and characterization tools. Several groups of such electrode materials have been identified and invited talks will be given on parallel comparisons. This symposium will provide a venue for fruitful interaction and exchange of ideas. It would also educate students and researchers nationally and globally in this important field of energy storage technologies.