Polymer binders and solid-state pouch cell development
This research aims to enhance the areal capacity of solid-state lithium batteries in pouch cell format. The cathode plays a critical role, housing both the cathode active material (CAM) and solid electrolyte (SE), which are essential for energy storage. Although high loading and high weight fractions of CAM to thiophosphate-based SEs are theoretically expected to boost energy density, the opposite often occurs due to inefficient interfacial connectivity between CAM and SE, resulting in increased tortuosity of lithium-ion transportation. This issue is addressed by optimizing the microstructure of dry-processed, polymer-coated cathodes. Additionally, the integration of current collectors and electrodes with polymeric binders is investigated to strengthen adhesion between these components.