Reinforcement of an electrically conductive network with ethanol as a dispersing agent in the slurry preparation step

Ethanol is added as a dispersing agent in the slurry preparation step for lithium-ion batteries, in which lithium titanium oxide (Li4Ti5O12, LTO) and conductive carbon (Super P) are dispersed into an aqueous solution of polymer binder (polyacrylic acid). The addition of ethanol suppresses the agglomeration of conductive carbon particles enabling homogeneous mixing of the electrode ingredients in the slurry, which eventually yields a uniform distribution of the LTO and Super P particles in the composite electrodes. Because of the reinforced electrically conductive network formed between the LTO and Super P, the electrode resistance becomes smaller, and thus, a high rate capability is achieved; the capacity of the LTO at 30 C is 73% of that observed at 0.5 C.