Multifunctionalized Conductive Polymers for Self-Healing Silicon Anodes in Li-Ion Batteries

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Silicon anodes offer high theoretical capacity for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) but suffer from poor cycle stability due to significant volumetric expansion.
• Electrode pulverization and capacity fading are major limitations for silicon anode performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and integrate an autonomous self-healing composite (SHC) as a binder for silicon anodes in LIBs.
• To evaluate the electrochemical performance and stability of silicon anodes utilizing the novel SHC binder.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of a poly-(aniline-co-3-aminophenylboronic acid)/PVA composite (SHC) binder.
• Fabrication of silicon anode electrodes using SHC with a PVP co-binder.
• Electrochemical characterization including EIS, CV, and galvanostatic charge/discharge tests.
• Material characterization using FTIR, TGA, and mechanical tests.

Main Results:

• The SHC binder was successfully integrated into silicon anode electrodes.
• Electrodes with SHC binder demonstrated a capacity of over 1700 mAh/g after 100 cycles at C/10.
• A capacity of 650 mAh/g was maintained after 200 cycles at C/2, indicating enhanced stability.

Conclusions:

• The developed self-healing composite binder effectively mitigates the degradation issues associated with silicon anodes in LIBs.
• This approach offers a promising strategy for enhancing the long-term performance and cycle life of high-capacity silicon-based batteries.