Electrodes
of lithium-ion batteries are currently deposited by
the slurry method. However, in the slurry method, the materials that
make up the electrodes, that is, active materials, conductive agents,
and binders, are subject to problems such as segregation and aggregation.
This problem can be solved by generating composite particles of the
active material, the conductive agent, and the binder. Composite particles
that combine these three functions can be synthesized by forming a
poly–ion complex (PIC) consisting of organics containing amino
groups and graphene oxide on the surface of lithium transition metal
oxide, the cathode active material. The formation mechanism of these
particles is discussed, and their potential as a battery material
is investigated by examining the conductivity of the electrode film.
The conductivity of the electrode film using these composite particles
is approximately 35% higher than that of the film in which Li(Ni0.34Co0.33Mn0.33)O2 (NCM),
carbon black (CB), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) are mechanically
mixed. This is understood as a result of the direct bonding between
PIC and NCM. The conductive agent and binder are highly dispersed
around the NCM particles without segregation/aggregation. In addition,
when a dry film is formed using only the composite particles without
adding PVDF, the adhesion to the collector foil is good and the conductivity
improves compared to the sample with PVDF.