In this Review, we discuss advanced electrode processing routes (dry processing, radiation curing processing, advanced wet processing and 3D-printing processing) that could reduce energy.
Our review paper comprehensively examines the dry battery electrode technology used in LIBs, which implies the use of no solvents to produce dry electrodes or coatings. In contrast, the conventional wet electrode technique includes processes for solvent recovery/drying and the mixing of solvents like N-methyl pyrrolidine (NMP).
Electrode manufacture involves several steps including the mixing of the different components, casting in a current collector and solvent evaporation . After the solvent evaporation step, a calendering process is used to reduce porosity and to improve particles cohesion, consequently improving battery performance .
In most methods for manufacturing battery electrodes, the dry mixing of materials is a distinct step that often needs help to achieve uniformity, particularly on a large scale. This lack of homogeneity can result in variable battery performance.
How does electrode fabrication affect battery performance?
The electrode fabrication process is critical in determining final battery performance as it affects morphology and interface properties, influencing in turn parameters such as porosity, pore size, tortuosity, and effective transport coefficient, .
How are electrodes made?
2.1. Electrodes The fundamental process for manufacturing electrodes is where the active material, conductive enhancers, and binding agents (binders) (illustrated graphically in Figure 2) are thoroughly mixed in a planetary mixer, forming a homogeneous slurry; slot-die coating machines deposit the prepared slurry onto substrates.
Electrode processing plays an important role in advancing lithium-ion battery technologies and has a significant impact on cell energy density, manufacturing cost, and throughput. Compared to the extensive research on materials development, however, there has been much less effort in this area.