Tab Materials and Current Flow in Li-Ion Cells

battery cell tab cross-sectional area versus peak current capability

AION Engineering INC Role of Tabs in Current Flow During discharge, the current generated by electrochemical reactions flows through the sequence: Active Material → Conductive Additive → Current Collector → Tab The tab serves as the final current-carrying element in this path. Its current-carrying capacity is therefore a critical factor that affects both electrical efficiency … Read more

Tabbed vs Tabless Cylindrical Cells

tabless end of a cell

Cylindrical lithium-ion cells have long used metal tabs to connect the current collectors to the terminals. These tabs act as the path for current to flow out of the electrode layers and into the external circuit. While this design has been reliable for decades, it introduces a few well-known limitations, particularly for high power applications. … Read more