Poly vinyl acetate used as a binder for the fabrication of a LiFePO4-based composite cathode for lithium-ion batteries

This paper describes a method for the preparation of composite cathodes for lithium ion-batteries by using poly vinyl acetate (PVAc) as a binder. PVAc is a non-fluorinated water dispersible polymer commonly used in a large number of industrial applications. The main advantages for using of this polymer are related to its low cost and negligible toxicity. Furthermore, since the PVAc is water processable, its use allows to replace the organic solvent, employed to dissolve the fluorinated polymer normally used as a binder in lithium battery technology, with water. In such a way it is possible to decrease the hazardousness of the preparation process as well as the production costs of the electrodes. In the paper the preparation, characterization and electrochemical performance of a LiFePO4 electrode based on PVAc as the binder is described. Furthermore, to assess the effect of the PVAc binder on the electrode properties, its performance is compared to that of a conventional electrode employing PVdF-HFP as a binder.