Hybrid carbon nanotube and graphene nanostructures for lithium ion battery anodes

•An optimized growth process for CNT and graphene hybrid nanostructures directly on metal foils has been demonstrated.•Seamlessly connected graphene and CNT pillars provide strong active material-current collector integrity which facilitates charge transfer in the system.•This innovative architecture provides a binder-free technique for preparing electrodes for lithium ion batteries.

We report on an innovative approach to fabricate lithium ion battery anodes based on optimized growth of hybrid carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene nanostructures directly on copper foil substrates by an ambient pressure chemical vapor deposition process. Seamlessly connected graphene and CNT pillars provide a relatively strong active material-current collector integrity, which facilitates charge transfer in the system. This innovative architecture provides a binder-free technique for preparing electrodes for lithium ion batteries.

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