Structural Effect of Conductive Carbons on the Adhesion and Electrochemical Behavior of LiNi0.4Mn0.4Co0.2 O2 Cathode for Lithium Ion Batteries

The adhesion strength as well as the electrochemical properties of LiNi0.4Mn0.4Co0.2O2 electrodes containing various conductive carbons (CC) such as fiber-like carbon, vapor-grown carbon fiber, carbon nanotubes, particle-like carbon, Super P, and Ketjen black is compared. The morphological properties is investigated using scanning electron microscope to reveal the interaction between the different CC and the active material. The surface and interfacial cutting analysis system is also used to measure the adhesion strength between the aluminum current collector and the composite film, and the adhesion strength between the active material and the CC of the electrodes. The results obtained from the measured adhesion strength points to the fact that the structure and the particle size of CC additives have tremendous influence on the binding property of the composite electrodes, and this in turn affects the electrochemical property of the configured electrodes.