Polymer Binders: Characterization and Development toward Aqueous Electrode Fabrication for Sustainability

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Binders are essential components in electrode fabrication for energy storage devices.
• Conventional binders often rely on hazardous organic solvents, posing environmental and cost concerns.
• Aqueous binders present a sustainable alternative, processed in water-based systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the critical role of binders in electrode construction for energy storage.
• To summarize standard binder characterization methodologies.
• To highlight recent advancements in aqueous binder systems for improved sustainability and performance.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of binder functions and characterization techniques.
• Analysis of recent research on aqueous binder systems for energy storage electrodes.
• Discussion of binder properties like adhesion and functional group contributions.

Main Results:

• Aqueous binders demonstrate comparable or superior adhesion compared to conventional binders, especially for high-capacity electrode materials undergoing volume changes.
• The functional groups in aqueous binders contribute to enhanced electrode performance and stability.
• Recent developments focus on eco-friendly and cost-effective aqueous binder solutions.

Conclusions:

• Aqueous binders represent a promising sustainable alternative for energy storage electrode manufacturing.
• Further research into polymer binders with enhanced sustainability and functionality is warranted.
• This review serves as a foundation for developing next-generation aqueous binder systems.