Carbon Nanotubes Based Nanostructured Materials for Lithium Ion Battery Applications: Recent Advances and Future Perspectives

Global rapid pacing demand of advanced renewable technology-based electrical and electronic devices such as hybrid electrical vehicles, portable electronic devices, consumer electronics, and remote sensing devices are pressing to develop higher power at high current density based electrochemical energy storage devices with considerable values of the charging rate more than 10C. It can only be possible if the storage devices can have the properties of rate performance like supercapacitor and the capacities like battery with enlarge life cycle. After decade of research, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have been assumed likely to be used to store energy based on few striking properties such as small in size, light weight, rare memory effect, better energy density and long cycle life. Carbon nanotube (CNT)-based nanomaterials for LIBs electrode materials have drawn substantial attention owing superior features such as unique flexible 1D structure, good ionic conductivity, chemical stability and high surface area. Further, advancement in CNTs may enhance fifty percent energy density of LIBs by substituting copper collectors. The capacity enhancement of about 1000 mAh g −1 was recorded, i.e. three times higher than the traditional graphite electrode, depending upon the experimental conditions. This chapter presents an explanation of CNTs-based nanocomposites materials for the LIBs electrodes and the important factors for high power density or high capacity at high current density.