Battery cell engineering and design to reach high energy

A positive electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery comprising:

• from about 90 wt % to about 96 wt % positive electrode active material,
• from about 2 wt % to about 6 wt % polymeric binder, and
• from about 0.5 wt % to about 8 wt % conductive additive comprising carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, graphene or combinations thereof,
• wherein the positive electrode has a specific discharge capacity of at least 180 mAh/g at C/3 from 4.6V to 2V against lithium, wherein the positive electrode active material is loaded on a current collector and the loading level of positive electrode active material on the current collector is from about 10 mg/cm2 to about 30 mg/cm2 and wherein the electrode has a density in the range of about 2.2 g/mL to about 3.3 g/mL.

A negative electrode for a lithium ion secondary battery comprising:

• from about 60 wt % to about 90 wt % of a high capacity negative electrode active material,
• from about 8 wt % to 30 wt % of a polymeric binder, and
• from about 1 wt % to 15 wt % conductive additive comprising carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers, graphene or combinations thereof,
• wherein the electrode has a specific deintercalation/dealloying capacity from about 5 mV to 1.5V against lithium of at least 700 mAh/g at C/3, wherein the loading level of negative electrode active material is at least 1.5 mg/cm2, and wherein the electrode has a density in the range of about 0.4 g/mL to about 1.3 g/mL.