Electric vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries are viewed as a vital green technology required to meet CO₂ emission targets as part of a global effort to tackle climate change. Positive electrode (cathode) materials within such batteries are rich in critical metals—particularly lithium, cobalt, and nickel. The large-scale mining of such metals, to meet increasing battery demands, poses concerns surrounding material exhaustion in addition to further environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. In particular, unethical mining practices and political instability within the Democratic Republic of the Congo (the world's largest cobalt producer) have prompted research into cobalt-low and cobalt-free alternatives. This review aims to provide a holistic view of lithium-ion cathode development and inform advancements by highlighting the interdependencies across mining, material development, and end-of-life management. While material sustainability is reported through supply and demand projections, the potential socioenvironmental impacts of lithium-ion battery technology represent a hugely underresearched area among the aforementioned themes. Notably, the lack of attention paid toward future implications of increased nickel use across material management and development disciplines is also discussed.

中文翻译：

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锂离子电池正极材料可持续性展望

由锂离子电池驱动的电动汽车被视为满足 CO ₂排放要求的重要绿色技术作为全球应对气候变化努力的一部分的排放目标。此类电池中的正极（阴极）材料富含关键金属，尤其是锂、钴和镍。除了进一步的环境、社会和治理 (ESG) 问题之外，为了满足不断增长的电池需求，大规模开采此类金属还引发了对材料耗尽的担忧。特别是，刚果民主共和国（世界上最大的钴生产国）不道德的采矿做法和政治不稳定促使人们研究低钴和无钴替代品。本综述旨在通过强调采矿、材料开发和报废管理之间的相互依存关系，提供锂离子正极开发的整体视图并为进步提供信息。虽然材料可持续性是通过供需预测报告的，但锂离子电池技术对社会环境的潜在影响在上述主题中是一个研究不足的领域。值得注意的是，还讨论了缺乏对跨材料管理和开发学科增加镍使用的未来影响的关注。