High performance, environmentally friendly and low cost anodes for lithium-ion battery based on TiO2 anatase and water soluble binder carboxymethyl cellulose

The challenge of producing lithium-ion batteries meeting performance requirements and low environmental impact is strictly related to the choice of materials as well as to the manufacturing processes. Most electrodes are currently prepared using poly(vinilydene fluoride) (PVDF) as binder. This fluorinated polymer is expensive and requires the use of a volatile and toxic organic solvent such as N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP) in the processing. Water soluble sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) can be a suitable substitute for PVDF as binder for both anodes and cathodes eliminating the necessity of NMP and thus decreasing the cost and the environmental impact of battery production. In this work, CMC has been successfully used to prepare efficient and stable anatase TiO2 anodes by optimizing the electrode manufacturing process in terms of composition and compression. The stability and the high rate performances of the TiO2/CMC are described and compared with those of TiO2/PVDF electrodes. The compatibility of the TiO2/CMC with a LiFePO4 cathode in a full-cell is also reported.

► Water soluble CMC can replace PVDF as binder in anatase TiO2 electrode fabrication.
► Optimization of electrode manufacturing process in terms of composition and compression.
► CMC/TiO2 anodes show higher capacity and high rate performances than PVDF/TiO2 anodes.
► Lower environmental impact and costs of electrode production.