Nanostructured Conductive Polymer Gels as a General Framework Material To Improve Electrochemical Performance of Cathode Materials in Li-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Controlling architecture of electrode composites is of particular importance to optimize both electronic and ionic conduction within the entire electrode and improve the dispersion of active particles, thus achieving the best energy delivery from a battery. Electrodes based on conventional binder systems that consist of carbon additives and nonconductive binder polymers suffer from aggregation of particles and poor physical connections, leading to decreased effective electronic and ionic conductivities. Here we developed a three-dimensional (3D) nanostructured hybrid inorganic-gel framework electrode by in situ polymerization of conductive polymer gel onto commercial lithium iron phosphate particles. This framework electrode exhibits greatly improved rate and cyclic performance because the highly conductive and hierarchically porous network of the hybrid gel framework promotes both electronic and ionic transport. In addition, both inorganic and organic components are uniformly distributed within the electrode because the polymer coating prevents active particles from aggregation, enabling full access to each particle. The robust framework further provides mechanical strength to support active electrode materials and improves the long-term electrochemical stability. The multifunctional conductive gel framework can be generalized for other high-capacity inorganic electrode materials to enable high-performance lithium ion batteries.

Investigation on xanthan gum as novel water soluble binder for LiFePO 4 cathode in lithium-ion batteries

“…Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have extended its practical applications from electric devices to energy-storage systems (ESSs), electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) [1]. For large-scale technology in LIBs, high energy density, fast charging rate, prolonged cycle stability, excellent rate capability and other features such as low cost and environmentally friendly are required, which should be further put forward and addressed than achieved until now.…”

Precise Surface Engineering of Cathode Materials for Improved Stability of Lithium‐Ion Batteries

“…To stabilize the cathode–electrolyte interface, surface coating of cathode materials by using electrochemically inert species has been widely practiced . Metal oxides and metal phosphates have been tested thoroughly as coating species in light of their extraordinary stability at high voltage as far as both their chemical and electrochemical stability are concerned.…”

Improvements on electrical conductivity of the electrospun microfibers using the silver nanoparticles

“…The electrical conductivity of polymers has been investigated extensively toward extending the applications of polymer systems to electromagnetic shielding, conductive sensing, conductive sensing, and fuel cells membrane technologies. Fabricating polymers with good intrinsic conductivity and incorporating conductive fillers into otherwise insulating polymer matrices are the two main approaches for obtaining conductive polymers. Intrinsically conductive polymers include poly (p‐phenylene), polypyrrole (PPy), polythiophene, polyaniline, and polyphenylacetylene .…”

“…Fabricating polymers with good intrinsic conductivity and incorporating conductive fillers into otherwise insulating polymer matrices are the two main approaches for obtaining conductive polymers. Intrinsically conductive polymers include poly (p‐phenylene), polypyrrole (PPy), polythiophene, polyaniline, and polyphenylacetylene . Salunkhe and Ghanwat reported a new polymer containing a thiophene‐based electron‐donating unit and an electron withdrawing unit, with outstanding electrochemical performance .…”