Innovative Biobased Thermoplastic Binders for Sustainable Lithium-Ion Batteries

The growing global demand for batteries has driven the search for sustainable materials for energy storage applications. One promising approach to enhance the sustainability of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is replacing poly-(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) with biobased polymers as binders. However, the primary challenge lies in identifying biobased binders that can meet the mechanical and electrochemical performance requirements necessary for high-efficiency batteries. Balancing sustainability with performance remains an obstacle in the development of biobased alternatives. This study explores the potential of novel biobased polymers to replace PVDF as a binder in LFP cathodes. Biobased polymers, synthesized from isosorbide and poly-(ethylene glycol) (PEG), were developed, and the results show that cathodes using the ISB-25PEG binder exhibit superior adhesion, cohesion, and battery performance that is comparable to that of the traditional PVDF binder. These findings highlight the potential of ISB-25PEG as a sustainable and high-performance alternative to the next generation of energy storage devices, marking an important step forward in the development of environmentally friendly battery technologies.