(Invited) Advanced Fluoropolymer Binder for Solvent-Free Manufacturing of Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes

Abstract

With rising demand of lithium-ion batteries for consumer electronics and electric vehicles, battery manufacturers are eager to increase energy density, reduce cost of manufacturing and minimize environmental footprints. Solvent-free electrode manufacturing technology has advantages over conventional wet electrode casting methods. It can save the cost of solvent, reduce energy consumption associated with drying off the solvent and eliminate capital investment for solvent recovery facilities. It also can reduce the environmental impact and mitigate health concerns of organic solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, used in wet slurry process. In addition, the solvent-free process enables manufacturing of high-quality thick electrodes; This is challenging for wet slurry process due to the sedimentation of particles and redistribution of binders during drying. Teflon™ PTFE fluoropolymer is the top binder candidate for a solvent-free electrode process due to its strong fibrillation property. The fibrils provide the binding force necessary to maintain the structural integrity of electrodes and make it feasible to scale up a roll-to-roll production process. Chemours is a global market leader in advanced fluoropolymers with strong capabilities in molecular design, synthesis, scale-up and manufacture; This ensures the delivery of the high-quality products to meet customer needs. In this presentation, we will give an overview of Chemours advanced fluoropolymer products for solvent-free manufacturing of anode and cathode electrodes. By tailoring the physical and chemical properties of fluoropolymers, electrode processibility and battery performance can be significantly improved.