In the latest issue of Chemistry Europe, published by the Electrochemical Society (ECS), a paper by AIT researchers Susan Montes, Alexander Beutl, Marcus Jahn, and Artur Tron, along with co-author Andrea Paolella, is presented as Cover Feature.
In Cost-Effective Solutions for Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing: Comparative Analysis of Olefin and Rubber-Based Alternative Binders for High-Energy Ni-Rich NCM Cathodes, safer and more cost-efficient battery production is explored by reducing reliance on fluorinated binders like polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and minimizing hazardous solvents such as N-Methyl-2-pyrrolido (NMP). Alternatives such as polyisobutylene (PIB), poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) (SBS), nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), and its hydrogenated version HNBR show promise as binders for Ni-rich Nickel manganese cobalt (NCM) cathodes. These materials dissolve in industrial solvents like toluene, forming stable cathode slurries. Tests show that PIB and HNBR-based cathodes deliver high specific capacity and stability, with enhanced adhesion, elasticity, and thermal stability, while toluene’s use lowers drying costs, enhancing economic feasibility.
Link to the paper: https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/celc.202400465