Abstract: Nowadays, there is an ever-growing demand for lithium ion batteries (LIBs) with even higher energy densities, safety, and longer cycle life. Electrode materials, such as silicon, tin, and metal oxides, based on either conversion or alloying mechanism have attracted widespread attention for LIB anodes due to their high theoretical capacities. Unlike the conventional intercalation mechanisms, a large irreversible capacity loss (ICL) in the first cycle is one of the prime issues for this type of negative electrodes. Electrolyte decomposition and the consumption of an excess amount of cathode material occur in an irreversible manner for the first cycle, and thereby leading to a low first cycle Columbic efficiency and large initial ICL. Lithium loss in the initial cycles appreciably reduces the energy density and cycling life, severely hindering practical applications in high energy LIBs. Prelithiation provide an effective solution to address these problems above. This review covers origins of irreversible capacity loss in alloying and conversion based materials, key technological developments, and scientific challenges regarding various prelithiation technologies, including physical blending, stabilized lithium-metal powder (SLMP), electrochemical lithiation, self-discharge mechanism, chemical lithiation, and recently new developed anode/cathode prelithiation additives. Furthermore, we also summarize their application for mitigating irreversible capacity loss of silicon based anodes in high energy Li-ion batteries and lithium sulfur batteries. It is highly significant to discuss recent advancements and future prospects of prelithiation technology, which will provide some general academic reference and principles for further development of other energy storage devices, e.g., ion capacitors, sodium ion batteries, potassium ion batteries, and lithium-air batteries.

Key words: prelithiation, coulombic efficiency, silicon anode, lithium ion batteries, lithium sulfur batteries