Rheological properties of silicon anode slurries modified with citric acid and borax and their impact on battery performance

Abstract

Investigation of silicon as an anode material for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is currently underway owing to its high electrical capacity. However, the charging and discharging processes can result in a substantial volume change in the active silicon material, which can eventually lead to pulverization. This phenomenon substantially reduces their lifespan, posing a formidable challenge to their effective utilization, especially for micron-sized silicon particles. To address this issue, research is being conducted to improve the electrochemical properties of silicon anode materials by adding citric acid and borax to the slurry manufacturing process. However, the effect of these materials on the rheological properties of the slurry remains to be fully elucidated. This study systematically investigated the effects of these materials on the shear and extensional rheological properties of micron-sized silicon anode slurries and the electrochemical properties of batteries. This study demonstrated that citric acid and borax significantly affected the microstructure and rheological properties of the silicon anode slurry and the electrochemical performance of the battery. It is expected that this study will facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of micron-sized silicon anode slurry, including its design and optimization.

Graphical abstract