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Volume 08 Innovative Energy & Research
ISSN: 2576-1463 Advanced Energy Materials 2019
July 11-12, 2019
July 11-12, 2019 | Zurich, Switzerland
21st International Conference on
Advanced Energy Materials and Research
Interfacial energy materials for flexible, safe batteries: Gummy electrolyte and gummy binder
W H Katie Zhong
Washington State University, USA
Two conformable interfacial energy materials have been designed and fabricated for battery applications,
i.e. gummy electrolyte and gummy binder with a chewing gum-like appearance (thereafter called “gummy”
material). Electrolytes play a very important role for battery safety and performance. The gummy electrolyte was
demonstrated with beneficial properties, such as high ionic conductivity (liquid electrolyte level), good mechanical
properties (solid materials level), and strong adhesion (adhesive level), as well as safety characteristics providing
thermal protection for batteries. The other interfacial energy material, the gummy binder, is a dual-conductive
adhesive for fabricating high performance battery electrodes. The primary function of conventional electrode binders
is “binding” particles in electrodes without directly contributing to the performance of electrodes/batteries, as they
cannot conduct electrons and/or ions. The gummy binder possesses high ionic and electronic conductivities, strong
adhesion and appropriate mechanical/rheological properties, as well as excellent conformability and processibility.
As it is a dual-conductive adhesive, the gummy binder is an effective solution to address the issues that are relevant
to the interface weakness and structural instability. Firstly, the adhesive electrode matrix being the continuous phase
can provide stable structures and “robust” interfaces via strong adhesion with the active electrode particles (the filler
phase). The results enhance the durability of the electrodes and thus the batteries. Secondly, the continuous phase
with uniform conductive interfaces provides the base for dual conductive functions (for both ions and electrons)
inside the electrodes. Therefore, with such a matrix material, “robust” interfaces, which are defined as stable with
high interfacial adhesion and good conductive properties for ion/electron transfer, can be built inside the electrodes.
Thirdly, the gummy binder as the conductive continuous phase can also promote heating transport/releasement,
thus the safety of the batteries can be improved.
Innov Ener Res 2019, Volume 08