Bio-synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles and the aqueous binder-based anode derived thereof for lithium-ion cells.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) are a promising anode material for Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their good rate capability, low cost, non-toxicity, excellent structural stability, extended cycle life, and low volumetric change (∼4%) during the Li+ insertion/de-insertion process. In the present paper, anatase TiO2-NPs with an average particle size of ~ 12 nm were synthesized via a green synthesis route using Beta vulgaris (Beetroot) extract, and the synthesized TiO2-NPs were evaluated as anode material in LIBs. Furthermore, we employed an aqueous binder (1:1 mixture of carboxy methyl cellulose and styrene butadiene) for electrode processing, making the process cost-effective and environmentally friendly. The results revealed that the Li/TiO2 half-cells delivered an initial discharge capacity of 209.7 mAh g-1 and exhibited superior rate capability (149 mAh g-1 at 20 C) and cycling performances. Even at the 5C rate, the material retained a capacity of 82.2% at the end of 100 cycles. The synthesis route of TiO2-NPs and the aqueous binder-based electrode processing described in the present work are facile, green, and low-cost and are thus practically beneficial for producing low-cost and high-performance anodes for advanced LIBs.

Direct synthesis of a lithium carboxymethyl cellulose binder using wood dissolving pulp for high-performance LiFePO4 cathodes in lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Li) is a promising novel water-based binder for lithium-ion batteries. The direct synthesis of CMC-Li was innovatively developed using abundant wood dissolving pulp materials from hardwood (HW) and softwood (SW). The resulting CMC-Li-HW and CMC-Li-SW binders possessed a suitable degree of substitutions and excellent molecular weight distributions with an appropriate quantity of long- and short-chain celluloses, which facilitated the construction of a reinforced concrete-like bonding system. When used as cathode binders in LiFePO4 batteries, they uniformly coated and dispersed the electrode materials, formed a compact and stable conductive network with high mechanical strength and showed sufficient lithium replenishment. The prepared LiFePO4 batteries exhibited good mechanical stability, low charge transfer impedance, high initial discharge capacity (∼180 mAh/g), high initial Coulombic efficiency (99 %), excellent cycling performance (<3% loss over 200 cycles) and good rate capability, thereby outperforming CMC-Na and the widely used cathode binder polyvinylidene fluoride.

Novel polymer Li-ion binder carboxymethyl cellulose derivative enhanced electrochemical performance for Li-ion batteries.

Novel water-based binder lithium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Li) is synthesized by cotton as raw material. The mechanism of the CMC-Li as a binder is reported. Electrochemical properties of batteries' cathodes based on commercially available lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4, LFP) and water-soluble binder are investigated. Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na, CMC) and CMC-Li are used as the binder. After 200 cycles, compared with conventional poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) binder, the CMC-Li binder significantly improves cycling performance of the LFP cathode 96.7% of initial reversible capacity achieved at 175 mA h g(-1). Constant current charge-discharge test results demonstrate that the LFP electrode using CMC-Li as the binder has the highest rate capability, followed closely by those using CMC and PVDF binders, respectively. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy test results show that the electrode using CMC-Li as the binder has lower charge transfer resistance than the electrodes using CMC and PVDF as the binders.