Published July 15, 2026
Summary: A thermal treated dual-charge conducting polymer binder for lithium-ion batteries enables the use of high-capacity anodes by managing their volume expansion and maintaining electrical conductivity.
Applications:
- Electric vehicle battery manufacturing
- Silicon anode lithium-ion batteries
- High-capacity consumer electronics batteries
Advantages/Benefits:
- Dual electron and ion conductivity
- High mechanical stability for volume expansion
- Enables high-capacity anode materials
- Improved battery energy density and cycle life
- Simple thermal manufacturing process
Background: Lithium-ion batteries require high-capacity anode materials like silicon oxide to meet growing energy density demands. To function effectively, these advanced anodes necessitate robust electrode binders that maintain structural integrity and facilitate efficient charge transfer.
However, current binders struggle because high-capacity anodes undergo substantial volume expansion during cycling. Traditional polymer binders are typically non-conductive and mechanically insufficient, causing a loss of electrical contact and rapid battery degradation.
Technology Overview:
Scientists at Berkeley Lab have developed a multifunctional electrode binder for lithium-ion batteries. A thermal treatment modifies the polymer’s molecular structure, transforming the conventional polymers into a glassy polymer that is capable of conducting both electrons and ions. This enables dual-charge conductivity of both electrons and ions, allowing the binder to accommodate the severe volume expansion and electrical requirements of high-capacity silicon oxide (SiOx) anodes during cycling.
Unlike standard battery binders, it successfully accommodates the substantial volume expansion of high-capacity anode materials, such as silicon oxide, while maintaining the critical electrical conductivity required during battery cycling. This innovative structural design overcomes previous limitations, enabling the practical integration of next-generation anodes to significantly improve battery energy density and cycle life.
Development Stage: TRL 3, demonstrating analytical and experimental proof of concept for its critical functions
Inventors:
Xiuyu Jin
Status: Patent pending
Opportunities: Available for licensing and / or collaborative research
