Enabling Enhanced Performance of High Areal Capacity Composite Positive Electrodes by Tailoring Electrode Formulation and Microstructure via a Conductive Additive Approach

Lithium‐ion batteries are known for their high specific capacities in energy storage by offering a lightweight and efficient solution for a wide range of applications, from portable electronics to electric vehicles. Being a major limiting factor for the specific discharge capacities during charge/discharge cycling, the electrode formulations of positive composite electrodes based on LiNi 0.6 Mn 0.2 Co 0.2 O 2 are tailored to facilitate processing of the electrode paste and to improve electrochemical and physical electrode properties. By combining different carbonaceous additives such as carbon nanotubes and conductive graphite in addition to the state‐of‐the‐art carbon black, positive electrodes with an optimized formulation and an active mass loading of 45 mg cm −2 (8 mAh cm −2 ) are manufactured. The optimized electrodes exhibit notably higher specific discharge capacities of up to 146 mAh g −1 at 0.5 C which is 60% higher than the reference electrodes containing solely carbon black as conductive additive. The performance boost of optimized electrodes is investigated by examining the electrode microstructure and the porosity of the conductive network within the electrode. A comprehensive study for the production of high performance and high load positive electrodes by tailoring the electrode formulation with conductive additives including carbon nanotubes is presented.