On the Use of Carbon Nanotubes in Prototyping the High Energy Density Li‐ion Batteries

This article is devoted to the laboratory technology aspects of high areal capacity electrode (more than 5 mAh cm−2) fabrication using carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as conductive additives and LiFePO4 as an active material. The influence of electrode slurry rheological properties and electrode composition on its areal (mAh cm−2), volumetric (mAh cm−3), and gravimetric (mAh g−1) capacity, and C‐rate performance has been studied. Using the small‐angle neutron scattering technique, it is shown that the CNT network embedded in the electrode layer provides greater wettability by an electrolyte compared with carbon black used as conductive additive. The practical applicability of the considered electrode technology is approved on a pouch cell prototype with a capacity of approximately 1.9 Ah and specific energy density of 150 Wh kg (cell)−1/295 Wh L (cell)−1. The main aspects of LiFePO4‐based high areal capacity electrode fabrication using carbon nanotubes as a conductive additive are considered. Prototyping the pouch cell with obtained high areal capacity cathodes and specific energy density of 150 Wh kg (cell)−1/295 Wh L (cell)−1 confirms practical applicability of the presented results.