Li-Ion Batteries with a Binder-Free Cathode of Carbon Nanotubes-LiFePO4-Al Foam

With the increasing demand for Li resources worldwide, the easy recycling of Li-ion batteries materials becomes essential. We report a binder-free cathode consisting of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and LiFePO4 (LFP) nanoparticles embedded in a 3D Al network. The electrode stability depends on the CNT ratio, where 3% CNT-wrapping LFPs provide a stable structure free of detachment from Al foam, as observed on Al foil. The binder-free cathode sheet exhibited excellent performance for high-rate discharge and long-term cycle life. Materials on the cathode can be easily detached with ultrasonic treatment when immersed in organic solvent, which is advantageous for a green and high-efficiency strategy of recycling all valuable materials compared to the binder-used electrode.