A Comprehensive Review of Current and Emerging Binder Technologies for Energy Storage Applications

Binders hold a crucial role in electrode fabrication by ensuring the cohesion and stability of active materials, conductive additives, and electrolytes within batteries. They also establish essential electron and ion pathways, crucial for effective lithiation and delithiation processes. Despite their relatively low concentration compared to active materials, binders significantly impact both the physical properties and electrochemical performance of electrodes. Given the escalating demand for Electric Vehicles and energy storage systems, there's an increasing need for batteries with higher energy densities and cost-effective production. This necessitates the development of new and more efficient battery materials. This review provides a detailed examination of various binders used in battery manufacturing, starting from traditional binders for Lithium-ion batteries to recent advancements for sodium-ion batteries, silicon anodes, Lithium-Oxygen batteries and other emerging technologies. By systematically exploring different binder types and their properties, this review contributes to the optimization and advancement of battery technologies. As the energy storage landscape continues to evolve, the insights presented here aim to inform innovative developments in binder design and application, ultimately catalyzing advancements in the field.