journal article·2026-06-19

Supratopological Ion‐Coordinated Binder Networks for Durable and Kinetically Efficient Silicon Anodes

Dejian Cheng, Bin Tan, Yong Zeng, Taoying Rao, Zhencong Ma, Jingyuan Wang, Ruijie Du, Yonghong Deng, Hongxia Liu, Chaoyang Wang

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The practical deployment of silicon (Si) anodes is limited by coupled mechanical failure and sluggish electrochemical kinetics arising from repeated volume expansion. While polymer binders are critical to electrode integrity, conventional designs often prioritize mechanical strength over ion transport. Here, a supratopological ion‐coordinated binder (PVA‐AA‐5SAS) by integrating a hyperbranched PVA‐AA framework with the sulfonated aromatic small molecule 5‐sulfoisophthalic acid sodium salt (SAS) via in situ esterification is developed. The resulting 3D network effectively suppresses polymer chain slippage while simultaneously forming continuous Li + ‐coordination pathways via cooperative interactions between ester and sulfonate groups. This dual‐function architecture markedly accelerates Li + diffusion, reduces charge‐transfer and SEI resistances, and stabilizes interfacial chemistry during deep lithiation. Si electrodes employing this binder demonstrate excellent rate capability and long‐term cycling stability, maintaining a capacity retention of 79.2% after 386 cycles at 1 A in a 1 Ah‑level NCM811//SiC550 pouch cell. These results demonstrate that rational binder design can decouple and resolve the long‐standing conflict between structural durability and ion conduction, providing a viable route toward kinetically efficient and mechanically durable Si‐based batteries.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advancements in Battery Materials · Advanced Battery Materials and Technologies · Fuel Cells and Related Materials

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Affiliations

Research Institute of Materials Science South China University of Technology Guangzhou China

Shenzhen Senior Technology Material Co., LTD. Shenzhen Guangdong China

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Materials For Electric Power, Institute of Innovative Materials Southern University of Science and Technology Shenzhen China

Guangxi Key Laboratory of Optical and Electronic Materials and Devices, College of Material Science & Engineering Guilin University of Technology Guilin China

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China

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