A Guide to Li-Ion Coin-Cell Electrode Making for Academic Researchers

To remain as relevant as possible, academic researchers need to be able to produce electrodes for lithium ion batteries that are comparable to those used in industry. This requires both a high percentage of active material and a high electrode density. Furthermore, the electrodes also need to adhere well enough to the current collecting foil to prevent particle detachment during cycling. While much of the knowledge needed to produce such electrodes is widely known in the industrial sphere, it is not readily available in the academic literature. Now that Li-ion battery technology has matured, reports of materials and cells tested using impractical electrodes are of limited value. This report outlines an effective method for producing high density, high capacity electrodes that have low amounts of binder and carbon black while still possessing excellent adhesion and electrochemical performance.