As a concept for electrode architecture in high power lithium ion batteries, self-supported nanoarrays enable ultra-high power densities as a result of their open pore geometry, which results in short and direct Li+-ion and electron pathways. Vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VACNT) on metallic current collectors with low interface resistance are used as current collectors for the chemical solution infiltration of electroactive oxides to produce vertically aligned carbon nanotubes decorated with in situ grown LiMn2O4 (LMO) and Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) nanoparticles. The production processes steps (catalyst coating, VACNT chemical vapor deposition (CVD), infiltration, and thermal transformation) are all scalable, continuous, and suitable for niche market production to achieve high oxide loadings up to 70 wt %. Due to their unique transport structure, as-prepared nanoarrays achieve remarkably high power densities up to 2.58 kW kg−1, which is based on the total electrode mass at 80 C for LiMn2O4//Li4Ti5O12 full cells. The tailoring of LTO and LMO nanoparticle size (~20–100 nm) and VACNT length (array height: 60–200 µm) gives insights into the rate-limiting steps at high current for these kinds of nanoarray electrodes at very high C-rates of up to 200 C. The results reveal the critical structural parameters for achieving high power densities in VACNT nanoarray full cells.

Li4Ti5O12 as anode material for high power Li+-ion batteries is very promising due to its unique electronic properties. However, the lack of electronic conductivity as well as the low Li+-ion diffusion coefficient are major drawbacks in achieving high power densities. In this work, therefore, we prepared a nano composite consisting of vertically aligned carbon nanotube arrays decorated with in-situ grown necklace type Li4Ti5O12 nanoparticles. Owing to this structure the electrodes exhibit outstanding rate performances with specific capacities of 110 mAh g(-1) up to 300C and cycling performance with high capacity retention of 97% after 500 cycles at 10C. Thus, the combination of short Li+-ion diffusion distances within Li4Ti5O12 particles, remarkable electronic conductivity by carbon nanotubes directly grown on the current collector as well as a high contact surface area due to an open pore geometry is essential in achieving high power Li4Ti5O12 anodes. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.