Influence of Binder Crystallinity on the Performance of Si Electrodes with Poly(vinyl alcohol) Binders

Silicon is a highly promising electrode material for Li-ion batteries because of its high theoretical capacity, but severe volume changes during cycling leads to pulverization and rapid capacity fading. The use of alternative and water-soluble polymer binders such as poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) or poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) can improve the cycling performance of Si-based Li-ion batteries. Here, we investigate the effect of the substitution of the hydroxyl groups of PVA chains by carboxylic acid and acetate groups on the electrochemical performance of Si anodes in Li-ion batteries. Using modified PVAs, a model system is created spanning the chemical space between PVA and PAA, and the role of different Si-adhering functionalities is investigated. When comparing the electrochemical performance of Li-ion battery cells using Si anodes and the investigated binder systems, PVA with the highest degree of hydrolysis exhibits a superior performance (100 cycles with 1019 mAh g(-1)) compared to modified PVAs and PAA as a binder for Si anodes. An increased degree of hydrolysis of PVA is also seen to be beneficial for high capacity retention. These effects can be largely explained by the crystallinity of the binder system, which renders an improved electrode integrity during cycling and less swelling of the Si particles.