Low-Tortuosity, Highly Conductive, Vertically Aligned, Ultra-Thick Composite Electrode Design for Batteries

Abstract

Ultra-think electrode is very important for high-energy batteries. It requires to increase the volume ratio of active material to inactive material and to improve the electrochemical reaction kinetics with low-tortuous ion and electron transfer pathways. In this talk, I will introduce a vertically aligned carbon fibers framework to structurally and electrically reinforce electrode structure to obtain high conductivity and low tortuosity. Compared with the traditional LFP electrodes composed of randomly dispersed LFP particles and carbon black particles, the CF-LFP electrodes show significant improvements in active material loading, structural stability and electrochemical performance due to the unique vertical arrangement of carbon fibers inside composite electrode. Because the vertical arrangement of carbon fibers provides a fast electron/ion transport channel, it promotes the redox reaction kinetics in the electrodes. CF-LFP electrodes significantly enhance the capacity and rate capability. The thickness of the electrode can be up to 1 mm with a loading of ~128 mg/cm2 and a specific capacity of 154 mAh/g.