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Probing clustering dynamics between silicon and PAA or LiPAA slurries under processing conditions
Mary K Burdette-Trofimov1, Beth L Armstrong2, Ryan P Murphy3
1Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
ACS Applied Polymer Materials
|September 18, 2023
Summary
Binder preparation methods significantly impact silicon slurry properties. Planetary centrifugal mixing creates branched polymers, affecting slurry homogeneity and electrode structure, unlike ball milling which yields linear polymers.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Silicon-based anodes are crucial for next-generation batteries.
- Slurry properties like aggregation and conformation influence electrode performance.
- Understanding binder behavior in silicon slurries is essential for battery manufacturing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and lithiated poly(acrylic acid) (LiPAA) slurry conformation, aggregation, and homogeneity.
- To determine how different binder preparation methods (ball mill vs. planetary centrifugal mixing) affect slurry properties.
- To correlate slurry characteristics with conditions relevant to battery electrode casting.
Main Methods:
- Small Angle Neutron Scattering (SANS) to analyze slurry structure.
- Rheology coupled with Ultra-Small Angle Neutron Scattering (rheo-USANS) to study dynamics under shear.
- Characterization of polymer conformation (linear vs. branched) based on preparation method.
Main Results:
- Planetary centrifugal mixing (PCM) leads to extensive binder breakdown and reformation, likely forming branched polymer structures.
- Ball milling (BM) results in lower molecular weight linear polymers due to lower energy input.
- Binder conformation significantly alters silicon slurry homogeneity and organization.
Conclusions:
- Binder preparation method is a critical factor controlling silicon slurry properties.
- The energy input during binder preparation dictates polymer conformation and subsequent slurry homogeneity.
- Optimizing binder preparation is key to achieving desired electrode architecture and battery performance.
