Molecular Effects of Li<sup>+</sup>-Coordinating Binders and Negatively Charged Binders on the Li<sup>+</sup> Local Mobility near the Electrolyte/LiFePO<sub>4</sub> Cathode Interface within Lithium-Ion Batteries

oleh: Po-Yuan Wang, Tzu-Heng Chiu, Chi-cheng Chiu

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2024-01-01

Deskripsi

The development of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is important in the realm of energy storage. Understanding the intricate effects of binders on the Li<sup>+</sup> transport at the cathode/electrolyte interface in LIBs remains a challenge. This study utilized molecular dynamics simulations to compare the molecular effects of conventional polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF), Li<sup>+</sup>-coordinating polyethylene oxide (PEO), and negatively charged polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) binders on local Li<sup>+</sup> mobility at the electrolyte/LiFePO<sub>4</sub> (LFP) cathode interface. By examining concentration profiles of Li<sup>+</sup>, three different polymer binders, and anions near Li<sup>+</sup>-rich LFP and Li<sup>+</sup>-depleted FePO<sub>4</sub> (FP) surfaces, we found a superior performance of the negatively charged PSS on enhancing Li<sup>+</sup> distribution near the Li<sup>+</sup>-depleted FP surface. The radial distribution function and coordination number analyses revealed the potent interactions of PEO and PSS with Li<sup>+</sup> disrupting Li<sup>+</sup> coordination with electrolyte solvents. Our simulations also revealed the effects of non-uniform binder dispersions on the Li<sup>+</sup> local mobility near the cathode surface. The combined results provide a comparative insight into Li<sup>+</sup> transport at the electrolyte/cathode interface influenced by distinct binder chemistries, offering a profound understanding of the binder designs for high-performance LIBs.