Copper nanowire/multi-walled carbon nanotube composites as all-nanowire flexible electrode for fast-charging/discharging lithium-ion battery

A novel lightweight three-dimensional (3D) composite anode for a fast-charging/discharging Li-ion battery (LIB) was fabricated entirely using one-dimensional (1D) nanomaterials, i.e., Cu nanowires (CuNWs) and multi-walled C nanotubes (MWCNTs). Because of the excellent electrical conductivity, high-aspect ratio structures, and large surface areas of these nanomaterials, the CuNW-MWCNT composite (CNMC) with 3D structure provides significant advantages regarding the transport pathways for both electrons and ions. As an advanced binder-free anode, a CuNW-MWCNT composite film with a controllable thickness (∼600 μm) exhibited a considerably low sheet resistance, and internal cell resistance. Furthermore, the random CuNW network with 3D structure acting as a rigid framework not only prevented MWCNT shrinkage and expansion due to aggregation and swelling but also minimized the effect of the volu…