Beyond Conventional Carbon: Graphene and Carbon Nanotubes as Advanced Conductive Additives for Lithium‐Ion Batteries—Challenges and Opportunities
Junwen Tang, Jianwen Su, Shaoqiu Wang, Ming Qin, Xiaoming Cai, Jinming Cai
Abstract
With the increasing demand for high‐performance lithium‐ion batteries, carbon nanotubes and graphene have emerged as key conductive additives driving technological advancements in this field. Compared to traditional carbon black, these materials exhibit superior electrical conductivity, excellent mechanical flexibility, and unique dimensional advantages, demonstrating significant potential in constructing efficient 3D conductive networks and markedly enhancing the kinetics of electron and ion transport within electrodes. This review comprehensively explores their dimension‐dependent properties, synergistic effects in composite systems, and specific applications alongside performance optimization mechanisms in various electrode systems such as lithium iron phosphate, nickel‐cobalt‐manganese cathodes, and silicon‐based anodes. Key challenges including dispersion homogeneity and long‐term structural stability of the conductive networks are critically examined. Furthermore, future development pathways for scalable fabrication strategies are outlined.