Superior high-temperature rate performance of LiFePO4 cathode: The stabilizing effect of a multicomponent gel biopolymer binder

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Ling Ding - , Chair of Metallic Materials and Metal Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Rita Leones - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Toni Schmeida - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)
  • Kornelius Nielsch - , Chair of Metallic Materials and Metal Physics, Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Daria Mikhailova - , Leibniz Institute for Solid State and Materials Research Dresden (Author)

Abstract

A quasi-solid-state polymer gel binder (PGB) has been prepared and investigated for application in high-temperature lithium-ion batteries. The effects of binder on the aging behavior of LiFePO4 (LFP) cathodes were investigated by electrochemical methods and post mortem analysis. Conventional binder polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) was used as a benchmark. At 60 °C, LFP/PGB half cells delivered a capacity of 98 mAh g−1, which corresponds to 92% of the initial value 140 mA g−1 over 1000 cycles at 10C. These results were far superior to the ones obtained for LFP with PVDF which only exhibited a capacity of 58 mAh g−1. We showed that a significant degradation of LFP in the LFP/PVDF electrode accompanied by iron dissolution in the electrolyte and deposition on the anodic surface together with a strong swelling of PVDF in the electrolyte as well as some contact loss between the electrode and the current collector represent the main reasons for the capacity fading at 60 °C. In contrast, these effects were much less pronounced in the LFP/PGB electrode. Furthermore, thick LFP/PGB electrodes with 450 μm thickness, corresponding to a 4.5 mg cm−2 mass loading, showed a better cycling performance and more favorable electrochemical kinetics than the electrode incorporating PVDF.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number230955
JournalJournal of power sources
Volume521
Publication statusPublished - 15 Feb 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Biopolymer, High-temperature battery operation, Lithium iron phosphate, Lithium-ion batteries, Polymer gel binder