The role of carboxymethyl cellulose on the rheology of anode slurries in lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in modern society, and research and development activities with the aim of further improving battery performance. The anode slurries in these devices typically include graphite as an active material and styrene-butadiene rubber as a binder, together with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in water. Despite much effort to date, there is no agreement regarding the role of CMC. This mini-review summarizes the function of CMC based on prior research findings. The results of previous studies indicate that, at moderate concentrations, CMC can act as a dispersant but can serve as a thickener at high concentrations. Our experimental results suggest that steric and electrostatic repulsion effects play a crucial role in anode slurries. Also, we show that the preparation processes can drastically change the rheological properties of the slurries despite the same materials and the same composition being used.