Enhancing Electrode Performance through Triple Distribution Modulation of Active Material, Conductive Agent, and Porosity

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Germany), 2024-07, Vol.20 (29), p.e2311044-n/a
• Main Authors: He, Renjie, Cai, Chuyue, Li, Siwu, Cheng, Shijie, Xie, Jia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electrodes; energy density; Energy distribution; Energy storage; gradient electrode; Lithium-ion batteries; low tortuosity; Modulation; Porosity; power density; Reaction kinetics; Roller coating; Straight channels; Suction; Tortuosity; Vacuum filtration
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.202311044

The increasing demand for large‐scale energy storage propels the development of lithium‐ion batteries with high energy and high power density. Low tortuosity electrodes with aligned straight channels have proved to be effective in building such batteries. However, manufacturing such low tortuosity electrodes in large scale remains extremely challenging. In contrast, high‐performance electrodes with customized gradients of materials and porosity are possible to be made by industrial roll‐to‐roll coating process. Yet, the desired design of gradients combining materials and porosity is unclear for high‐performance gradient electrodes. Here, triple gradient LiFePO4 electrodes (TGE) are fabricated featuring distribution modulation of active material, conductive agent, and porosity by combining suction filtration with the phase inversion method. The effects and mechanism of active material, conductive agent, and porosity distribution on electrode performance are analyzed by experiments. It is found that the electrode with a gradual increase of active material content from current collector to separator coupled with the distribution of conductive agent and porosity in the opposite direction, demonstrates the best rate capability, the fastest electrochemical reaction kinetics, and the highest utilization of active material. This work provides valuable insights into the design of gradient electrodes with high performance and high potential in application. This work reveals the optimal distribution of active material, conductive agent, and porosity for gradient LiFePO4 electrode, which affords superior rate capability, high active material utilization, and fast Li+ intercalation and deintercalation performance.