Unlocking Stable Cycling in Silicon Kerf Waste Anodes with Recycled Polyacrylamide-Based Binders for Lithium-Ion...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Sustainable Energy

Background:

• Silicon (Si) from semiconductor kerf waste is a promising, cost-effective anode material for lithium-ion batteries.
• Recycled Si particles have variable sizes and morphologies, leading to mechanical stress and reduced electrochemical performance.
• Existing binders like carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) are insufficient for optimizing Si anode performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel binder system, lithium polyacrylate/polyacrylamide (LiPAA/PAM), tailored for recycled silicon kerf waste.
• To contrast the performance of the LiPAA/PAM binder with polyacrylamide (PAM) alone and CMC.
• To demonstrate the potential of recycled Si kerf waste as a viable anode material.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis and characterization of the LiPAA/PAM binder system.
• Fabrication of silicon anodes using the developed binder system.
• Electrochemical testing, including galvanostatic cycling, to assess capacity retention and performance.

Main Results:

• The LiPAA/PAM binder system leverages covalent, hydrogen, ionic, and electrostatic interactions for enhanced stability.
• Recycled PAM binder alone improved capacity retention by approximately 3 times compared to CMC.
• The addition of LiPAA to PAM further doubled the capacity retention, achieving 1528 mAh g⁻¹ after extended cycling.

Conclusions:

• The developed LiPAA/PAM binder system effectively mitigates issues associated with recycled Si kerf waste.
• This binder unlocks the potential of silicon kerf waste as a high-performance, cost-effective anode material.
• The study highlights a sustainable approach to battery material recycling, reducing environmental impact.