The Critical Role of Carbon Nanotubes in Bridging Academic Research to Commercialization of Lithium Batteries

Abstract

Rechargeable lithium batteries have been intensively explored due to their potential to deliver a high energy and stable cycling performance. Yet considerable achievements have been reported on battery performance in lab‐based research, a broad gap from fundamental research to their industrial application needs to be filled. The significant advances in the field of carbon nanotubes over the past decades make it a promising candidate to bridge such a gap. Nevertheless, a systematic and profound understanding of its roles in Li batteries is lacking. In this review, we discuss the critical role of carbon nanotube in developing several lithium techniques such as Li‐ion, Li‐sulfur, and Li‐air cells. The focus is laid on the elevation of device capacity, energy, and cyclic life to meet the practical demand. We hope this paper, together with other recently‐proposed guiding principles, will pave the way for the massive application of carbon nanotube‐based lithium batteries.

Wrapping silicon microparticles by using well-dispersed single-walled carbon nanotubes for the preparation of high-performance lithium-ion battery anode

“… 24,25 In addition, we consider that the segregated CNT network would be a result of the van der Waals interactions between CNTs. 12,14 Therefore, we speculate that the formation of thin 2D CNT sheets is provided by the chemical interaction between CNTs and the freeze-drying method. However, the segregated 2D CNT network was not formed when we freeze-dried aqueous pristine SWCNT powder dispersion due to severe aggregation between SWCNTs ( Fig.…”

“…According to previous studies, there was a prerequisite that the particles should be micron-sized to form a segregated CNT network. 12,14 However, the effective hierarchical CNT network was simply formed when we freeze-dried well-dispersed CNTs ( Fig. 3b ).…”

Acetylation Strategy for Unzipping Carbon Nanotubes in High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

“…Researchers are developing effective and sustainable energy sources to address issues from the increasing consumption of fossil fuels and environmental degradation. − Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are considered to be one of the most potential energy storage systems in reducing fossil fuel usage and CO 2 emissions owing to their high energy density, high efficiency, and extended cycle life. − Carbon-based materials are among the most appealing electrode materials for LIBs because of their low cost, abundance, and chemical and physical stability and have sparked significant commercial interest. − However, this type of material does have a limited specific capacitance (372 mA h g –1 for graphite). − As a result, it is critical to prepare carbon-based materials via rational design and controllable structure to improve the specific capacity. , …”