To stabilise the electrode material and increase the stability of contact with the battery current collector, made of copper or aluminium, fillers such as cellulose and rubber have been added. They make up less than one-tenth of the cathode composite and do not reduce battery capacity.
Most electric cars are powered by lithium-ion batteries, a type of battery that recharges when lithium ions flow from a positively charged electrode called the cathode to a negatively charged electrode called the anode. In most lithium-ion batteries, the cathode contains cobalt, a metal with characteristics such as high stability and energy density.
At the same time, cobalt is a scarce metal, and most of its deposits are located in countries with difficult political environments. In addition, cobalt mining involves hazardous working conditions and generates toxic waste that pollutes the environment near the mines. One alternative material used in practice is lithium-iron-phosphate (LPF), which, however, has half the energy density.
