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Title: Enabling aqueous processing for LiNi0.80Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA)-based lithium-ion battery cathodes using polyacrylic acid

Journal Article · · Electrochimica Acta

Replacing N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) with water in the production of lithium-ion battery cathodes is critical to realizing process cost savings and improved worker safety. LiNi0.80Co0.15Al0.05O2 (NCA) is a poor fit for aqueous processing due to destructive Al current collector corrosion resulting from highly basic slurries and detrimental surface reconstruction reactions that occur in water. In this study, polyacrylic acid (PAA, MW = 450,000 g·mol-1) is examined as a corrosion-mitigating and surface-stabilizing agent. Adding PAA to an aqueous NCA slurry can provide a stable pH (4.0–8.5) for at least 4 h, since the carboxyl groups from PAA dissociate and increase the proton concentration in the slurry. Further, these groups can also adsorb to the surface of NCA particles and provide electrostatic stability from active material particle agglomeration, as revealed by zeta potential measurements. Minor cracking does occur at the electrode surface; this cracking likely caused poorer adhesion to the Al current collector in the aqueous-processed film when compared to the NMP-processed baseline. Electrochemically, the leached Li does cause a lower initial capacity for the aqueous-processed cathode, though the capacity retention of the aqueous-processed cathode is better than the baseline. The cracks in the coating led to a rise in charge transfer resistance that hindered rate capability above 1C.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Vehicle Technologies Office
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1777736
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1804142
Journal Information:
Electrochimica Acta, Vol. 380; ISSN 0013-4686
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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