Carbon nanotube-embedded lithium batteries could power drones, EVs

Researchers at Gyeongsang National University in Korea have developed a novel approach to structural lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) by growing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on quartz-woven fabrics (QWFs) to serve as multifunctional electrodes. This innovation addresses a key challenge in LIB design: creating batteries that not only store energy efficiently but also bear mechanical loads, thereby reducing weight and improving safety. Traditional LIBs add significant weight without contributing structurally, which is a limitation especially in aerospace and electric vehicle (EV) applications where efficiency is critical. Quartz-woven fabrics offer excellent dimensional stability, chemical inertness, and thermal resistance but lack electrical conductivity, which the CNTs effectively provide by forming electron transport networks and reinforcing the electrode matrix. Using a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method with nickel catalysts, the researchers achieved uniform CNT growth on QWFs, optimizing the process at two temperatures (600°C and 700°C). The sample grown at 700°C (C-QWF-