Unveiling Polymeric Binder Distribution within Electrodes for High-Energy-Density Li-Ion Batteries By Measuring Adhesion Properties As a Function of Depth

Abstract

To improve the energy density of state-of-the-art lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), there are still extensive efforts to find new materials to deliver higher capacity. However, it takes a long time to put some candidates into a practical usage. Along with it, to optimize the electrode or cell design is in parallel and continuously upgraded by increasing loading level of electrodes or decreasing inactive material content within the cell. For this purpose, it is very important to analyze the polymeric binder distribution within the electrode carefully. However, due to limited analysis tools, it is too time-consuming process to get informative data. Fortunately, a new tool, surface and interfacial cutting analysis system (SAICAS), was developed and being used to reveal the adhesion properties of composite electrodes for LIBs [1-5]. Herein, we report the possibility to unveil the polymeric binder distribution with the electrode by correlating the adhesion strength to relative polymeric binder content. Totally different binder distribution within the electrode was built by controlling the drying temperature and confirmed by an EDX mapping technique. In addition, their electrochemical performance is also compared by changing operation conditions [6].