Nickel-Rich Cathodes for Solid-State Lithium Batteries: Comparative Study Between PVA and PIB Binders

The growing demand for high-energy, safe, and sustainable lithium-ion batteries has increased interest in nickel-rich cathode materials and solid-state electrolytes. This study presents a scalable wet-processing method for fabricating composite cathodes for all-solid-state batteries. The cathodes st...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: José M. Pinheiro, Beatriz Moura Gomes, Manuela C. Baptista, M. Helena Braga
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Molecules
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/30/14/2974
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Summary:The growing demand for high-energy, safe, and sustainable lithium-ion batteries has increased interest in nickel-rich cathode materials and solid-state electrolytes. This study presents a scalable wet-processing method for fabricating composite cathodes for all-solid-state batteries. The cathodes studied herein are high-nickel LiNi<sub>0.90</sub>Mn<sub>0.05</sub>Co<sub>0.05</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, NMC955, the sulfide-based electrolyte Li<sub>6</sub>PS<sub>5</sub>Cl, and alternative binders—polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyisobutylene (PIB)—dispersed in toluene, a non-polar solvent compatible with the electrolyte. After fabrication, the cathodes were characterized using SEM/EDX, sheet resistance, and Hall effect measurements. Electrochemical tests were additionally performed in all-solid-state battery half-cells comprising the synthesized cathodes, lithium metal anodes, and Li<sub>6</sub>PS<sub>5</sub>Cl as the separator and electrolyte. The results show that both PIB and PVA formulations yielded conductive cathodes with stable microstructures and uniform particle distribution. Electrochemical characterization exposed that the PVA-based cathode outperformed the PIB-based counterpart, achieving the theoretical capacity of 192 mAh·g<sup>−1</sup> even at 1C, whereas the PIB cathode reached a maximum capacity of 145 mAh.g<sup>−1</sup> at C/40. Post-mortem analysis confirmed the structural integrity of the cathodes. These findings demonstrate the viability of NMC955 as a high-capacity cathode material compatible with solid-state systems.
ISSN:1420-3049