ABSTRACT
At the end of the last century, rechargeable lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries could be regarded as an innovative technology in the fi eld of portable energy-storage devices. Among their wide applications, Li-ion batteries have recently been used to supply power for electric and hybrid vehicles. They are expected to partially replace internal combustion engines and to contribute in solving the problems of air pollution and the emission of green-house gases. The applicability of this
energy storage device to the innovative technological fi elds is strongly dependent on the constituent electrode materials. The diversity of the electrode materials imposes to examine many parameters such as the microstructure, texture, crystallinity, and morphology for the enhancement of the battery performance. This chapter reviews various carbon materials as candidates for anode materials of rechargeable Li-ion batteries and for assistant materials enhancing the conductivity in various types of batteries including the lead-acid battery, primary and secondary Li batteries. Tubular carbon materials including single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and mass-produced multiwalled carbon nanotubes (product name: vapor-grown carbon fi ber [VGCF]) have been considered as alternative electrode materials or as additives to enhance the stability on repeated charge/discharge cycles. Furthermore, the demand and trend in the market of rechargeable Li-ion batteries are also mentioned.
