Cellulose composite membranes induced by multiple hydrogen bonds as lightweight current collectors for high-performance batteries

Abstract While reducing current collector thickness improves battery energy density, further thinning commercial collectors compromises mechanical integrity and increases manufacturing costs. Here, we overcome these limitations by developing a lightweight (1.23 mg·cm-2), cost-effective cellulose com...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Chenchen Li, Zhenwei Yang, Xiaogang Luo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Communications Materials
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-025-00802-6
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Summary:Abstract While reducing current collector thickness improves battery energy density, further thinning commercial collectors compromises mechanical integrity and increases manufacturing costs. Here, we overcome these limitations by developing a lightweight (1.23 mg·cm-2), cost-effective cellulose composite membrane (CCM) via solution casting from an alkali/urea solvent. This CCM, composed of modified carbon nanotubes and natural cellulose, exhibits high electrochemical stability and flexibility, serving as both cathode and anode current collectors. CCM-containing batteries show 99.40% capacity retention after 500 cycles at 3 C. Replacing commercial collectors with CCM reduced their battery proportion to 6.23% and increased gravimetric energy density by 41.32%, while also reducing current collector costs by 50.36%. The CCM, produced through regenerated cellulose technology, is suitable for industrial-scale production, offering a strategy to enhance battery energy density with lightweight, low-cost current collectors.
ISSN:2662-4443