All about Lithium-ion Battery Conductive Additives

As a high–energy-density energy storage device, the lithium-ion battery has seen rapidly growing demand in the fields of electric mobility, stationary energy storage, and consumer electronics. However, cathode materials generally suffer from poor intrinsic electronic conductivity and high internal resistance, which directly limit rate capability and energy density.

To address this, conductive additives—as critical auxiliary functional materials—are widely employed to construct stable and efficient conductive networks, enhance electron transport, and ensure full utilization of the active material.
In a battery formulation, the mass fraction of conductive additives typically does not exceed 3%, yet their impact on performance is significant. Whether in rate performance, cycle life, or manufacturing processability, conductive additives are one of the decisive factors in overall cell performance.

1. Functional Roles of Conductive Additives in Cathode vs. Anode

Electrode	Function	Challenges	Key Specs
Cathode	Fill gaps, lower electron resistance, form stable network	Low conductivity of active material	D50 ≤ 50 nm, SSA ≥ 60 m²/g, DBP ≥ 350 mL/100g
Anode	Maintain network during graphite expansion/contraction	Dispersion in dense anodes; avoid metal contamination	Metal ions ≤ 10 ppm, Dispersion index ≤ 0.2

2. Common Types and Performance Profiles

Type	Structure	Conductivity	Dosage (%)	Dispersibility	Cost	Advantage	Limitation
Conductive Carbon Black (SP)	Chain/grape-like, high surface area	Medium	2–3	Average	Low	Low cost, mature process	Medium performance, often imported
Carbon Nanotubes (CNT)	1D hollow cylinders, point-to-line contact	High	0.5–1	Good	High	Continuous conductive networks, low interface resistance	Dispersion challenges, cost
Graphene	2D sheets, point-to-plane contact	Very High	0.3–0.5	Good	High	Low dosage, high capacity boost	Process complexity, batch variation
Conductive Graphite	Fine artificial graphite, porous	Medium-High	2–3	Average	Medium	High tap density	/

3. Critical Technical Parameters

1.Particle Size & Surface Area – Smaller particles increase contact points and reduce electron path length.
2.DBP Absorption Value – Indicates structural branching; higher values enable better conductive networks.
3.Metal Ion Content – Low Fe, Ni, Cu reduces self-discharge and improves safety.
4.Surface Functional Groups – Improve dispersion but may lower conductivity if excessive.

4. Market Trends

1.Water-based dispersion to reduce NMP usage and meet environmental compliance.
2.Hybrid formulations (CNT+Graphene, CB+CNT) to balance performance and cost.
3.Low-dosage, high-performance additives to increase active material content.
4.Cost optimization to achieve ≤ SGD 40/kg for mainstream markets.

5. Leading Conductive Additives

Material Name	Type	Particle Size / Pore Volume	BET (m²/g)	Fixed Carbon / DBP	Moisture / pH	Fe (ppm)	Dosage (%)	Main Applications
S-0 Conductive Graphite Powder	Graphite	D50 3–5 μm	—	≥ 99.98%	≤ 0.08% / ~7	≤ 5	2–3	High-density cathode/anode
Super P Li Conductive Carbon Black	Carbon Black	~40–50 nm	62	DBP 32 mL/5 g	0.1% / 10	~5	1.8–3.0 (cathode); 0.8–1.5 (anode)	NCM/LFP cathode & anode
YP-50F Activated Carbon	Activated Carbon	Pore vol. 0.7 mL/g	1600	0.7 ml/g	8.4	18	5–10	Supercapacitors, composite electrodes
Ketjenblack EC600JD	Carbon Black	— / DBP 480–510 mL/100 g	~1400*	480–510 ml per 100 g	≤ 0.5% / 9.0–10.5	below 100 ppm	0.3–1.0	High-power Li-ion batteries, supercapacitors, conductive composites

As the lithium-ion battery industry advances toward higher energy density, faster charging, and longer cycle life, the role of conductive additives will only become more critical. From traditional conductive carbon black to advanced materials like carbon nanotubes, graphene, and specialty graphite, each solution has its unique balance of cost, performance, and application focus.

At Beyond Battery, we supply a wide range of trusted, high-spec conductive materials—delivered with clear specifications and reliable service.