High-Viscosity PVDF Powder for Li-Ion Battery Slurry Mixing - Corrosion Resistant Thermoplastic Fluoropolymer Binder

PolyVinyliDene Fluoride (PVDF) is the standard binder material used in the production of composite electrodes for lithium-ion batteries. A solution of PVDF 1−2% by mass in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is mixed with an active lithium storage material such as graphite, silicon, tin, LiCoO₂, LiMn₂O₄, or LiFePO₄ and a conductive additive such as carbon black or carbon nanofibers. This slurry is cast onto a metallic current collector, and the NMP is evaporated to form a composite or paste electrode. PVDF is used because it is chemically inert over the potential range used and does not react with the electrolyte or lithium.

Polyvinylidene fluoride or polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) is a highly non-reactive thermoplastic fluoropolymer produced by the polymerization of vinylidene difluoride. PVDF is a specialty plastic used in applications requiring the highest purity, as well as resistance to solvents, acids and hydrocarbons. PVDF has low density (1.78 g/cm³) in comparison to other fluoropolymers, like polytetrafluoroethylene.