Improved composite electrode and lithium battery performance From smart use of the polymers and their properties

Abstract

To increase electrode cycling performance in batteries, most researchers generally focus their work on the active material optimisation. Here we show that the polymeric binder of the composite electrode may have an important role on the electrode performance. We describe a new tailored polymeric binder combination with controlled polymer-filler (carbon black) interactions that allows the preparation of new and more efficient electrode architecture. Using this polymeric binder, composite electrodes based on Li_1.2V₃O₈ display a room-temperature cycling capacity of 280 mAh/g (C/5 rate, 3.3−2 V) instead of 150 mAh/g using a standard-type (PVdF-HFP binder) composite electrode. We have coupled SEM observations, galvanostatic cycling and electronic conductivity measurements in order to define and understand the impact of the microstructure of the composite electrode on its electrochemical performance.