Effect of Heat Treatment on Si Electrodes Using Polyvinylidene Fluoride Binder

The electrochemical performance of Si electrodes using polyvinylidene fluoride binder heated at different temperatures ranging from 150 to was investigated. Compared to unheated electrodes that have no capacity after the first formation cycle, the heat-treated electrodes show an increasingly improved cycling performance as the heating temperature increases from 150 to . In particular, Si electrodes heated at retain a specific capacity of for 50 cycles with a lower cutoff potential of vs . The reasons for such improvements are considered based on results from thermal analysis, optical microscopy, and adhesion tests. It is suggested that heat-treatment improves the binder distribution, the adhesion to the Si particles and to the substrate, thereby leading to a better cycling performance.