Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are gaining attention as effective conductive additives to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). However, integrating them into the battery’s cathodes in an eco-friendly way has been challenging due to difficulties in dispersing the nanotubes in nontoxic solvents.
A recent study presents a solution by using a dispersion of functionalized SWCNTs in an alcoholic solvent, without the need for a dispersant, to create high-performance LIB cathodes. The SWCNTs were functionalized with hydroxyl groups and dispersed in ethyl cellulose (EC) within propylene glycol methyl ether. This dispersion was used as a conductive binder in the cathodes of LIBs.
Despite the typically stiff nature of EC, the resulting composite electrodes, made with EC and SWCNTs, are flexible, making them suitable for use in binder systems for LIBs. When applied to LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 (NCM811)-based cathodes, the SWCNTs demonstrated superior electrochemical performance compared to traditional carbon black additives. The eco-friendly method showed impressive cycling stability, retaining approximately 78% of the initial capacity after 150 cycles, and exhibited excellent rate capability.
This innovative, alcohol-based fabrication method for LIB cathodes using functionalized SWCNTs offers a promising route toward more sustainable and efficient battery technologies.
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