C-NERGY Conductive Additive Sampler Pack for Battery Electrode Fabrication

C-NERGY is a brand of high-performance carbon black products, tailored for the lithium-ion battery industry. The sampler kit includes three 10G bottles: C-NERGY Super P, Super C65, and Super C45. Each type of carbon black is a low-porosity carbon particle with a roughly spherical shape, differing in particle size, surface area, and characteristics that influence their application and processing.

The primary application of C-NERGY carbon blacks is in battery fabrication. The carbon blacks enhance electrical conductivity of the electrode film and reduce electrode polarization during battery operation. To use the product, one of the carbon blacks is added to the electrode slurry in a proportion of 1-10 weight percent of the solids, depending on the active material and binders used. In most electrodes, only 1-3 wt.% is needed to enhance the electronic conductivity and improve performance.

Distinct Particle Characteristics:

•Super P: ~40 nm particle size, ~62 m²/g surface area
•Super C65: ~50 nm particle size, ~65 m²/g surface area
•Super C45: ~100-200 nm particle size, ~45 m²/g surface area

Super P and Super C65 are the smallest particles. They also share a similar degree of graphitization, while Super C45 exhibits lower graphitization and slightly higher surface concentrations of elements like hydrogen, oxygen, and carboxyl groups. These variances affect performance, with Super P and Super C65 providing slightly superior electronic conductivity, especially in dense films. Super C45 generally results in the lowest irreversible capacity loss during the initial battery cycle, although this is highly dependent on the specific electrode and electrolyte combination.

Processing Behavior:

In wet-processing, Super P and Super C65 require high shear mixing with the solvent, active material, and binder to break down agglomerates. Super C45, with its distinctive surface chemistry, disperses more easily and can be mixed at lower shear rates or even dry-mixed. For slurry formulation:

•Super P and Super C65 create slurries of similar viscosity.
•Super C45-based slurries are more viscous at the same weight fraction.

Due to its ease in forming homogenous dispersions and least stable particle aggregates, Super C45 is the preferred conductive carbon additive for dry processing methods.