Performance of lithium ion batteries using a carbon nanotube film as a cathode current collector

A carbon nanotube (CNT) film was used as the current collector and LiCoO2 as the cathode for a lithium ion battery. The battery showed a high initial discharge capacity of 132.8 mAh g−1, a high retention rate of over 80% after 500 cycles under 1 C and a low self-discharge rate of 1.5%. When the areal density of the CNT film is 16 mg cm−2, the energy density of the LiCoO2–CNT battery is 25% larger than that of a LiCoO2–Al battery. The superior properties of the battery may be attributed to the high electrochemical stability of the graphitic structure of CNTs and the porous surface of the CNT film that ensures a high contact surface area between the current collector and the cathode material. The CNT film is promising as a new current collector for lithium ion batteries. arbon Materials 2014, 29(4): 322–328]