IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v393y2025ics0306261925007172.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

A review on challenges in low temperature Lithium-ion cells and future prospects

Author

Listed:
  • Misiani, Andrew N.
  • Oni, Babalola Aisosa

Abstract

Lithium-ion batteries are vital for electric vehicles (EVs) and modern electronics, but their performance suffers significantly at low temperatures, especially below 0 °C. The primary challenge lies in the liquid electrolyte, where reduced Li+ diffusion, poor transfer kinetics, high desolvation barriers, and lithium plating lead to capacity loss and reduced cycle life. To address these issues, this review explores the main limitations of low temperature (LT) electrolytes and current advances in Li-salts, solvents, additives, and innovative schemes. It also examines the challenges faced by each component of Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) —anode, cathode, and electrolyte—in cold environments and proposes modification methods to improve low temperature performance. By analyzing these developments, the review offers perceptions into the design of cryogenic electrolytes and highlights future research paths, aiming to enhance the operability of Lithium-ion batteries in extreme environments such as aerospace and polar regions, thus accelerating their commercialization and broader application.

Suggested Citation

  • Misiani, Andrew N. & Oni, Babalola Aisosa, 2025. "A review on challenges in low temperature Lithium-ion cells and future prospects," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 393(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:393:y:2025:i:c:s0306261925007172
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125987
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261925007172
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2025.125987?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bingxiang Sun & Xianjie Qi & Donglin Song & Haijun Ruan, 2023. "Review of Low-Temperature Performance, Modeling and Heating for Lithium-Ion Batteries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-37, October.
    2. Wang, Yujie & Zhang, Xingchen & Chen, Zonghai, 2022. "Low temperature preheating techniques for Lithium-ion batteries: Recent advances and future challenges," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 313(C).
    3. Zhuo Li & Rui Yu & Suting Weng & Qinghua Zhang & Xuefeng Wang & Xin Guo, 2023. "Tailoring polymer electrolyte ionic conductivity for production of low- temperature operating quasi-all-solid-state lithium metal batteries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Huang, Ranjun & Wei, Gang & Wang, Xueyuan & Jiang, Bo & Zhu, Jiangong & Chen, Jingan & Wei, Xuezhe & Dai, Haifeng, 2024. "A non-destructive heating method for lithium-ion batteries at low temperatures," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Liu, Xinyu & Li, Yang & Gao, Shuai & Zhou, Zhifu & Wu, Wei-Tao & Wei, Lei & Lyu, Jizu & Li, Yubai & Song, Yongchen, 2025. "Efficient cold-starting project with mild lithium plating for lithium-ion batteries using immersion liquid cooling at low temperatures," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 384(C).
    2. Hangchao Wang & Yali Yang & Chuan Gao & Tao Chen & Jin Song & Yuxuan Zuo & Qiu Fang & Tonghuan Yang & Wukun Xiao & Kun Zhang & Xuefeng Wang & Dingguo Xia, 2024. "An entanglement association polymer electrolyte for Li-metal batteries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Zhuang, Zixian & Gu, Sijie & Luan, Weiling & Li, Jun & Chen, Haofeng, 2025. "A record fast ACP self-heating for lithium-ion batteries without capacity loss based on electrochemical-thermal coupling model," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 393(C).
    4. Hong Shi & Mengmeng Cheng & Yi Feng & Chenghui Qiu & Caiyue Song & Nenglin Yuan & Chuanzhi Kang & Kaijie Yang & Jie Yuan & Yonghao Li, 2023. "Thermal Management Techniques for Lithium-Ion Batteries Based on Phase Change Materials: A Systematic Review and Prospective Recommendations," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-23, January.
    5. Xie, Jiekai & Luo, Yunjun & Zhang, Guoqing & Mo, Chongmao & Yang, Xiaoqing, 2024. "Compact design of integrated battery thermal management systems enabled by bi-functional heating-cooling plates and temperature-equalizing strategy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    6. Jian, Jiting & Zhang, Zeping & Wang, Shixue & Gong, Jinke, 2023. "Analysis of control strategies in alternating current preheating of lithium-ion cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 333(C).
    7. Liang, Lin & Zhao, Yaohua & Diao, Yanhua & Ren, Ruyang & Zhu, Tingting & Li, Yan, 2023. "Experimental investigation of preheating performance of lithium-ion battery modules in electric vehicles enhanced by bending flat micro heat pipe array," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).
    8. Li, Jintao & E, Jiaqiang & Ding, Jiangjun & Cai, Lei & Luo, Bo, 2024. "Effect analysis on the low-temperature preheating performance of a novel micro-combustor air preheater for the cold start of the Li-ion battery packs," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 312(C).
    9. Lu, Fenglian & Chen, Weiye & Hu, Shuzhi & Chen, Lei & Sharshir, Swellam W. & Dong, Chuanshuai & Zhang, Lizhi, 2024. "Achieving a smart thermal management for lithium-ion batteries by electrically-controlled crystallization of supercooled calcium chloride hexahydrate solution," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 364(C).
    10. Liu, Fen & Yang, Na & Li, Weihua & Wang, Fuqiang & Yang, Lizhong & Liu, Hui & Du, Qian & Romagnoli, Alessandro & Wang, Jianfeng, 2025. "Efficient and lightweight battery protection film with a bionic polar bear structure in extreme environments," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 380(C).
    11. Rong Gu & Da Zhang & Shengtao Xu & Xiaoyu Guo & Yuan Xiao & Zhimeng Sheng & Qunjie Xu & Jinting Xu & Sheng Zhu & Kexuan Liao & Shuaiqi Gong & Penghui Shi & YuLin Min, 2025. "Thermoresponsive ether-based electrolyte for wide temperature operating lithium metal batteries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-14, December.
    12. Li, Junqiu & Xue, Qiao & Gao, Zhuo & Liu, Zengcheng & Xiao, Yansheng, 2024. "Frequency varying heating strategy for lithium-ion battery rapid preheating under subzero temperature considering the limitation of on-board current," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 365(C).
    13. An, Zhiguo & Liu, Huaixi & Gao, Weilin & Zhang, Jianping, 2024. "A triple-hybrid battery thermal management system with drop-shaped fin channels for improving weather tolerance," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    14. Shi, Haotian & Wang, Shunli & Fernandez, Carlos & Yu, Chunmei & Xu, Wenhua & Dablu, Bobobee Etse & Wang, Liping, 2022. "Improved multi-time scale lumped thermoelectric coupling modeling and parameter dispersion evaluation of lithium-ion batteries," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 324(C).
    15. Mo, Chongmao & Xie, Jiekai & Zhang, Guoqing & Zou, Zhiyang & Yang, Xiaoqing, 2024. "All-climate battery thermal management system integrating units-assembled phase change material module with forced air convection," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 294(C).
    16. Liang Xu & Shanyi Wang & Lei Xi & Yunlong Li & Jianmin Gao, 2024. "A Review of Thermal Management and Heat Transfer of Lithium-Ion Batteries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-36, August.
    17. Bolong Hong & Lei Gao & Changping Li & Genming Lai & Jinlong Zhu & Dubin Huang & Yunxing Zuo & Wen Yin & Mengyu Sun & Shusen Zhao & Jiaxin Zheng & Songbai Han & Ruqiang Zou, 2025. "All-solid-state batteries designed for operation under extreme cold conditions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    18. Olabi, A.G. & Wilberforce, Tabbi & Sayed, Enas Taha & Abo-Khalil, Ahmed G. & Maghrabie, Hussein M. & Elsaid, Khaled & Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali, 2022. "Battery energy storage systems and SWOT (strengths, weakness, opportunities, and threats) analysis of batteries in power transmission," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    19. Huang, Ranjun & Wei, Gang & Wang, Xueyuan & Jiang, Bo & Zhu, Jiangong & Chen, Jingan & Wei, Xuezhe & Dai, Haifeng, 2024. "A non-destructive heating method for lithium-ion batteries at low temperatures," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    20. Murukadas, Deepu & Cho, Yeonhwa & Lee, Woongki & Lee, Sooyong & Kim, Hwajeong & Kim, Youngkyoo, 2024. "Lithium supercapacitors with environmentally-friend water-processable solid-state hybrid electrolytes of zinc oxide/polymer/lithium hydroxide," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:393:y:2025:i:c:s0306261925007172. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.