Investigation of different binding agents for nanocrystalline anatase TiO2 anodes and its application in a novel, green lithium-ion battery

The electrochemical performance of nanocrystalline anatase TiO2 electrodes made using sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) binder, alone and in combination with styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), has been investigated. The electrochemical behavior of these electrodes, which were made via a water-based process, has been compared with those of electrodes manufactured using traditional polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) and its copolymer with hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solution. Without the need of any post coating treatment, such as roll pressing, CMC and CMC/SBR based electrodes possess higher specific capacity, rate capability, and cycling stability than those prepared using PVDF or PVDF-HFP as binding agent. Using the same water based process, CMC based LiNi1/3Mn1/3Co1/3O2 (NMC) electrodes have been prepared. The combination of CMC based TiO2 and NMC electrodes in a lab-scale lithium-ion full cell showed a stable cycling performance with a total energy density of more than 120 Wh kg(-1). These results demonstrate that anatase TiO2 is an attractive candidate for the development of safer and greener lithium-ion batteries for future application in hybrid and electric vehicles and stimulate further research on this full lithium-ion cell combination. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.