Improvement of lithium-ion battery performance using a two-layered cathode by simultaneous slot-die coating

The electrochemical performance of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) could be improved using a two-layered cathode produced by a simultaneous slot-die coating method. The composition in each layer contained different proportions of two conductive additives; one with a high percentage of micro-sized graphite, and the other with a high percentage of nano-sized carbon black. Of the four cell structures fabricated, the two-layered cathode with an upper layer having more carbon black and a lower layer having more graphite particles was found to give the best current discharge capacity and longer life cycle. This finding could have potential applications in new LIBs design. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.