A Review: Carbon Additives in LiMnPO4- and LiCoO2-Based Cathode Composites for Lithium Ion Batteries

Carbon plays a critical role in improving the electronic conductivity of cathodes in lithium ion batteries. Particularly, the characteristics of carbon and its composite with electrode material strongly affect battery properties, governed by electron as well as Li+ ion transport. We have reviewed here various types of carbon materials and organic carbon sources in the production of conductive composites of nano-LiMnPO4 and LiCoO2. Various processes of making these composites with carbon or organic carbon sources and their characterization have been reviewed. Finally, the type and amount of carbon and the preparation methods of composites are summarized along with their battery performances and cathode materials. Among the different processes of making a composite, ball milling provided the benefit of dense and homogeneous nanostructured composites, leading to higher tap-density and thus increasing the volumetric energy densities of cathodes.