Systems and methods for conductive polymer monomers as cathode additives for silicon-based lithium ion batteries may include a silicon-based anode, an electrolyte, and a cathode. The cathode may include an active material and small amounts of dispersed conductive polymer monomer additive. The cathode active material may include one or more of nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (NCA), nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM), lithium iron phosphate (LFP), lithium cobalt oxide (LCO), and lithium manganese oxide (LMO). The conductive polymer monomer additive may any known monomer based on thiophene, aniline, and/or pyrrole core structures alone or in combination. The conductive polymer monomer additive may comprise 5% or less by weight of the active material, or 1% or less by weight of the active material, or 0.5% or less by weight of the active material.