Carbon nanotubes have long been admired for their remarkable electrical conductivity and incredible tensile strength, surpassing even the capabilities of copper and steel. These one-dimensional nanomaterials are essentially hollow tubes composed of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. Because of their unique properties, CNTs have shown great promise in a variety of fields, particularly in energy storage systems like secondary batteries, where they can be used as conductive additives. However, despite their potential, the use of CNTs in battery production has been hindered by a major challenge: their tendency to aggregate into tangled bundles, which impedes their ability to effectively integrate with other battery materials. This has made their application in dry manufacturing processes for batteries difficult.
A team of researchers at the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute has now overcome this obstacle with a groundbreaking innovation. The team has successfully developed a technology that produces CNTs in powder form with highly dispersible properties. This breakthrough allows CNTs to remain separated during processing, ensuring a more uniform distribution in secondary battery materials. As a result, the CNTs can effectively enhance the conductivity of the battery without the risk of aggregation that typically leads to poor performance. Dr. Joong Tark Han, who led the research at KERI, hailed this achievement as a world-first, stating that the ability to disperse CNTs effectively will provide a significant technological advantage in the development of next-generation batteries.
The dispersibility of CNTs in powder form has profound implications for the production of secondary batteries, particularly in the context of eco-friendly dry processing. In traditional methods, CNTs are often mixed with solvents to achieve dispersion, a process that can be both environmentally damaging and costly. The KERI team’s innovation eliminates the need for solvents, making the production process more sustainable and cost-effective. By avoiding solvent use, the new method not only reduces environmental pollution but also simplifies the manufacturing process and cuts down on production costs. This makes it an attractive solution for industries, particularly those involved in the production of electric vehicles, which rely on high-performance batteries for their energy storage systems.
The CNT powder technology developed by KERI enables the use of these highly conductive nanomaterials in dry processes, which has previously been a challenge for battery manufacturers. In this new method, the CNT bundles are kept separated, allowing for a more efficient integration of CNTs into the battery's active materials, such as the anode and cathode. This leads to the formation of stronger and more efficient electrical connections within the battery, which in turn improves the overall performance of the energy storage system. With this breakthrough, manufacturers can now produce secondary batteries with higher energy densities, longer life cycles, and faster charging times.
In addition to these benefits, the use of highly dispersible CNT powder in the dry process also supports the development of next-generation battery technologies, including lithium-sulfur and all-solid-state batteries. Both of these technologies hold great promise for the future of energy storage, offering higher capacity and greater safety compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. However, both also require dry processes to manufacture their components, and the new CNT powder technology developed by KERI could play a pivotal role in enabling the mass production of these advanced batteries.
This innovation represents a major step forward not only in the field of materials science but also in the quest for sustainable energy solutions. By improving the efficiency of secondary batteries and reducing the environmental impact of their production, the KERI team’s work brings the world closer to achieving greener energy storage solutions. With global demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies continuing to rise, this technology is poised to have a significant impact on industries worldwide. As a result, the team’s breakthrough is expected to attract attention from manufacturers across the electric vehicle sector, as well as other industries focused on advancing battery technology.
KERI has already filed a domestic patent for this new CNT powder production technology and is actively testing its application in high-capacity battery components, including thick-film anodes and cathodes. The next steps for the team involve collaborating with companies seeking to incorporate this technology into their own products and production lines. With ongoing efforts to refine the technology and broaden its application, this innovation could well play a critical role in the future of battery manufacturing and sustainable energy storage.
This advancement in CNT dispersion technology is a clear example of how material science and sustainability can work hand-in-hand to solve some of the most pressing challenges in the energy sector. By enabling the efficient use of carbon nanotubes in dry battery processing, KERI’s technology lays the foundation for more efficient, eco-friendly energy storage solutions that will help meet the growing global demand for cleaner energy alternatives.
