Ultra High Energy Density Cathodes with Carbon Nanotubes

Free-standing carbon nanotube CNT electrodes were developed as suitable light-weight current collectors to effectively incorporate novel cathode nanoparticles towards high energy lithium ion batteries. The use of CNT additives with commercial high capacity lithium rich cathodes was shown to increase areal loadings and specific capacity compared to using carbon black additives. Synthesis of alternative lithium rich cathode active materials exhibited room temperature capacity of 170 mAhg, and a high temperature capacity of 240 mAhg. Modeling results indicate that the use of these particles coated onto CNT current collectors can result in battery energy density increases up to 15 vs. mesocarbon microbead MCMB.