Effect of Conductive Additive Amount and Type on the Electrochemical Performance of a Ternary Soft-Packed Lithium-ion Battery

Conductive additives play a pivotal role in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), significantly influencing their electrochemical performance. These additives function as a conductive percolation network, thereby enhancing and sustaining the electronic conductivity of the electrodes. This enhancement facilitates more efficient charge and discharge processes within the electrodes. This work systematically investigates the impacts of various types of conductive additives along with their respective addition amounts on the electrochemical performance of LIBs cathodes. Through rigorous experimentation and analysis, this study elucidates how these conductive additives [Super P-Li (SP) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)] influence electrode performance based on their concentrations. The findings indicate that an increase in Super P content enhances the number of channels available for electron transfer, resulting in a significant reduction in interfacial impedance between the NCM cathode material and its collector. Consequently, this leads to improved electron-collecting capabilities while ensuring that a reliable electron transfer system is maintained. Notably, cells utilizing MWCNTs-2 exhibit remarkable direct current resistance (DCR) characteristics alongside impressive multiplication capabilities; demonstrating a capacity retention at 92.33% over 2000 cycles at 45[Formula: see text]C. The fundamental cause of this phenomenon lies in the unique one-dimensional nanostructures and high aspect ratios exhibited by MWCNTs. The formation of efficient conductive networks with minimal additive content, thereby reducing interfacial impedance and significantly enhancing both the performance multiplicity and cycling stability of LIBs. This study disclosed the conductive agent system in ternary soft-pack LIBs by establishing a robust theoretical framework supported by empirical evidence.