Slurry solvent content influence on electrode preparation, microstructure and performance

Abstract

The electrode fabrication process, i.e., mixing the particles of active material and conductive additive in a binder solution, casting and drying, and calendering, play an important role in the electrode microstructure and electrochemical performance of lithium-ion (LiB) batteries. In this study, we demonstrate the influence of the solvent added to the graphite-based anode slurry during processing, and then investigate the synergistic effect of calendering on electrode morphology, coating density, and electrochemical behavior for use in high-performance LiB. The dispersion state of the electrode particles and the amount of effective mass charged per unit volume are strongly influenced by the amount of solvent added to the slurry. We have verified the uniformity and stability of the slurry prepared from aqueous graphite electrodes and found that it also has a remarkable effect on the electrode microstructure and electrochemical performance, which is synergistic with the help of calendering. The precision of this work could enable researchers to fabricate their own high-quality lithium-ion battery electrodes at laboratory scale and with high reproducibility.