Unlocking the potential of lithium-ion batter

Ishikawa, Japan — Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in various applications but need improved binders to enhance their performance to meet evolving demands. This is because silicon oxide (SiO), a promising anode material due to its high capacity and low cost, faces several challenges. These include poor conductivity, which leads to slower charging rates, and significant expansion during charging. Effective binders are thus essential to address these issues and ensure enhanced performance and prolonged durability for lithium-ion battery systems.

In a recent study published in the journal ACS Applied Energy Materials on February 8, 2024, Professor Noriyoshi Matsumi from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), along with doctoral student Noriyuki Takamori, former Senior Lecturer Rajashekar Badam, Dr. Tejkiran Pindi Jayakumar (former student), and researchers from Maruzen Petrochemical Company Ltd., have utilized poly(vinylphosphonic acid) (PVPA) as a binder for a micro-SiO electrodes, achieving superior performance compared to conventional cells.

According to Prof. Matsumi, “The PVPA binder should prove to be very useful in extending the life of high-performing lithium-ion secondary batteries. Particularly in the application of electric vehicles, there has been intense interest in enabling long life for lithium-ion secondary batteries. The use of PVPA will offer improved alternatives to commercially available binders, such as poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF), etc.”

The study involved fabricating electrodes containing PVPA, PAA, and PVDF as binders, and their performance was assessed through electrochemical experiments and density functional theory. PVPA demonstrated notably stronger adhesion (3.44 N/m) to a copper support compared to conventional PAA (2.03 N/m), leading to significantly enhanced durability in lithium-ion batteries.

The PVPA-based cell also delivered almost twice the discharging capacity compared to the PAA-based cell after 200 cycles, with the PVPA-based half-cell achieving 1300 mAhg^-1SiO after the same cycle count. Even after 200 cycles of charge-discharge, exfoliation from the current collector was not observed in scanning electron microscopy, unlike with PVDF or PAA binders. Furthermore, the stronger adhesion of PVPA helps stabilize the SiO-based anode, preventing its exfoliation even with significant volume expansion.

Additionally, Maruzen Petrochemical Company Ltd., whose researchers were part of the study, has established an industrial production process for PVPA. Continuous collaboration between JAIST and Maruzen Petrochemical Company Ltd., along with the inclusion of additional battery production expertise from the company, may further accelerate the process toward real-life applications. Patents for this technology have been submitted both domestically (Japan) and internationally as a joint application by JAIST and Maruzen Petrochemical Company Ltd.

“An industrially feasible, high-performing binder like this will aid in the development of technology for highly durable and high-energy-density batteries. This will result in the wider adoption of EVs worldwide without concerns about performance degradation over a longer period. These materials can also be applicable to a variety of electric vehicles such as trains, ships, aircraft, etc., in the future,” envisions Prof. Matsumi.

In summary, scientists have developed a functional binder using poly(vinylphosphonic acid) for SiO-based anodes in lithium-ion batteries. This low-cost binder enhances performance compared to conventional options and represents a novel advancement for micro-SiO-based applications in electric vehicles and beyond!

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About Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

Founded in 1990 in Ishikawa prefecture, the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) was the first independent national graduate school in Japan. Now, after 30 years of steady progress, JAIST has become one of Japan’s top-ranking universities. JAIST counts with multiple satellite campuses and strives to foster capable leaders with a state-of-the-art education system where diversity is key; about 40% of its alumni are international students. The university has a unique style of graduate education based on a carefully designed coursework-oriented curriculum to ensure that its students have a solid foundation on which to carry out cutting-edge research. JAIST also works closely both with local and overseas communities by promoting industry–academia collaborative research.  

About Professor Noriyoshi Matsumi from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

Noriyoshi Matsumi is a Professor at the Materials Chemistry Frontiers Research Area, the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST). He earned his PhD from Kyoto University and has held positions at Nagoya University and Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. With a focus on electronic devices and equipment, functional solid-state chemistry, and polymer chemistry, Professor Matsumi’s research has over 3000 citations. He has also won several awards including the Padmashri Dr. Baldev Raj FiMPART Distinguished Researcher Award (2019) and is a member of academic societies like the American Chemical Society and the Electrochemical Society of Japan.

Funding information

This work was supported by JST SPRING, Grant Number JPMJSP2102.

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