Effect of current collectors on the electrochemical performance of semi-solid LiFePO4 lithium slurry batteries

Abstract

Semi-solid lithium slurry batteries represent an innovative energy storage technology that simplifies manufacturing, reduces costs, and enhances safety, and recyclability. Beyond the intrinsic conductivity of the slurry, their performance is strongly governed by the interfacial contact resistance between the slurry and the current collector. The nature and structure of the current collector critically influence electron transport, polarization losses, and overall electrochemical stability. Here, we investigate the electrochemical performance of three current collector types (aluminum metal, carbon felt, and carbon cloth) in LiFePO₄ based semi-solid lithium slurry batteries. Our findings reveal that carbon cloth outperforms the other collectors, achieving 95% capacity retention after 100 cycles at 1 C and delivering a high capacity of 70 mA h g⁻¹ at 10 C. Notably, even under high-loading conditions, carbon cloth maintains superior electrochemical performances. This study highlights the pivotal role of current collectors in semi-solid lithium slurry battery performance, offering a promising pathway toward scalable, high-efficiency energy storage solutions.