Investigation of Xanthan Gum and Carboxymethyl Cellulose Binders for the Silicon Anode of Lithium-Ion Batteries

The binder is known to play an important role in the cycle stability of silicon-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries. Nature-derived biopolymers such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC) and xanthan gum (XG) are a promising class of binders that offer several advantages over traditional polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). Advantages include better contact between silicon particles and the ability to process the electrodes using water as a solvent. While many studies have explored the fundamental properties of these biopolymer binders and their interaction with silicon, there has been little research on the use of these binders under practical loadings (such as similar to 2 mg Si cm(-2) and < 10 wt% binder). Herein, we compare the electrochemical performance of both NaCMC and XG-based silicon electrodes with a low binder content. Si-binder interactions and their role in electrode performance are revealed with XPS, SEM, and EDX. In addition, we report the results of both a high-silicon (80 wt% Si) and a practical low-silicon (20 wt% Si) composite electrode while using silicon nano powder prepared by industrial-scale synthesis. It is found that NaCMC consistently outperforms XG as a binder, which is attributable to superior cohesion within the electrode.