On the Connection Between Slurry Rheology and Electrochemical Performance of Graphite Anodes in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Most current lithium-ion battery anodes are prepared from a slurry containing graphite, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), and small amounts of conductive carbon black (CB). The rheology of this four-component slurry is an important indicator of its microstructure, that affects the structure of the dried electrode. This in turn has consequences on the electrochemical performance of the anode. We modulate the rheology of the slurry by choosing three different commercially available carbon blacks that are used in lithium-ion batteries and establish a connection between slurry rheology and electrochemical performance. We show that the storage modulus is the key factor that impacts the electrochemical performance.