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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
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Solid-state Graft Copolymer Electrolytes for Lithium Battery Applications
Published on: August 12, 2013
Functional Group Regulated Polyimide Binders for Silicon-Based Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries
Yurong Liu1,2, Qingdong Wang3, Kewei Li1
1Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo 315201, China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|July 14, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed new polyimide binders for silicon anodes in lithium-ion batteries. The PI-DABA binder with amide groups showed superior performance, maintaining capacity and forming a stable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI).
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Silicon anodes are promising for high-capacity lithium-ion batteries but suffer from volume expansion during cycling.
- Effective binders are crucial for maintaining electrode integrity and performance of silicon anodes.
- Understanding the structure-property relationships of binders is key to improving battery stability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of different functional groups in polyimide (PI) binders on silicon anode performance.
- To establish structure-property relationships for designing high-performance polymer binders.
- To correlate binder structure with electrolyte swelling, interfacial interactions, and solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formation.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of polyimide binders with varying functional groups (amide, ester, none).
- Electrochemical testing of silicon anodes utilizing these binders.
- Analysis of binder swelling behavior and interfacial interactions with silicon.
- Characterization of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) formed on the anode.
Main Results:
- The PI-DABA binder (amide groups) demonstrated excellent resistance to electrolyte swelling and strong interfacial interaction with silicon.
- PI-APAB (ester groups) showed poor mechanical properties and excessive Li+ coordination, while PI-PDA (no polar groups) had weak interfacial interaction.
- The PI-DABA-based anode achieved high capacity (2300 mAh g-1) and excellent cycling stability (70% retention after 300 cycles at 1 A g-1).
- A stable, layered SEI (organic-rich outer, LiF-rich inner) formed with PI-DABA, unlike the mixed SEIs with other binders.
Conclusions:
- Polymer binder structure significantly influences electrolyte swelling and interfacial properties.
- Amide-functionalized polyimides are promising for developing stable and high-performance silicon anodes.
- This study provides design principles for advanced polymer binders for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.
