Carbon nanotube web-based current collectors for high-performance lithium ion batteries

In lithium-ion batteries, electrodes with well-defined three-dimensional (3D) nanostructure electrodes commonly possess improved lithium ion mass transport, stable cyclability, and excellent high rate performance. In this study, we demonstrate the 3D electrode consisting of web-type carbon nanotube (CNT-web) and LiNi0.4Mn0.3Co0.3O2 (NMC-433) as a cathode for high-performance lithium-ion batteries. The as-prepared three-dimensional nanostructure electrode (web-NMC) contains the CNT-web, which has a highly crystalline structure containing networks of individual nanotubes, and NMC-433 with a well-defined structure and composition. The web-NMC exhibits enhanced electrochemical reaction properties of lithium ions such as high specific capacity (∼150 mAh g−1), high rate cycling performance, and capacity retention (48%) due to an efficient electron transport path and fast lithium ion transport compared with the conventional structure electrode.