Study on Bio-Derived Polymer Candidates for Sustainable Binder Systems in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
발표자
여상구 (성균관대학교)
연구책임자
김수찬 (성균관대학교)
초록
내용
Binders are essential in lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs), acting as both mechanical stabilizers and electrochemical mediators to suppress the polysulfide shuttle effect. Conventional PVDF binders suffer from low affinity to lithium polysulfides (LiPS) and require toxic solvents, limiting their use in Li-S systems. In this study, we investigate eco-friendly, water-processable, bio-derived polymer binders for sulfur cathodes. Xanthan gum (XG), carboxymethyl cellulose, λ-carrageenan (CRGN), chitosan, and alginate contain abundant polar groups that enable LiPS adsorption, suppress shuttle effects, and enhance electrode stability. Among them, XG and CRGN showed superior cycling performance due to strong LiPS affinity, facile Li-ion transport, and good slurry processability. Furthermore, we propose a dual-binder system combining XG and CRGN to exploit their synergy and develop a high-performance, fully water-processable LSB with improved cycling stability and sustainability.