Polymeric Binders in Modern Metal‐ion Batteries

Polymeric binders are important components in maintaining the structural integrity of electrodes in energy storage devices. The emergence of alloy- and conversion-type materials (e.g. silicon anodes and lithium–sulfur batteries) as next-generation energy storage materials has attracted notable scientific and commercial interest in binder research. This interest is significantly motivated by the critical roles of binders in addressing the fundamental issues of these emerging systems, such as the large volume change of silicon anode and the shuttling effect of lithium–sulfur batteries. Considering the inherent drawbacks of traditional polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binders, it is necessary to develop binders with excellent mechanical and electrochemical properties to facilitate the next-generation battery systems. Herein, in this chapter, we review the fundamental binding theory and emerging binders in energy storage systems. Then, the binder design strategies and applications are summarized. Finally, the challenges and future opportunities of binder research are proposed.