Polymeric and Chelate Gel Precursors for Transition Metal Oxide and Silicon-Based Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries

The growing demand for efficient and sustainable energy storage systems has intensified research on advanced materials for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Gel-based synthesis routes-particularly polymeric and chelating gel techniques-have emerged as powerful methods for designing lithium-ion battery (LIB) anode materials with tailored microstructures, composition uniformity, and enhanced electrochemical performance. These methods facilitate the transformation of solution-phase precursors into homogeneous and finely structured materials, enabling precise tuning of physicochemical properties. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the fundamental principles of polymeric and chelate gel synthesis routes, highlighting their ability in controlling particle size, morphology, and phase purity. Their applicability to a wide range of anode materials, including transition metal oxides and silicon-based composites, is discussed. The manuscript highlights LIBs anode material developments via gel precursor chemistry, structure-property relationships, and future directions toward scalable and sustainable electrode manufacturing.