The Effects of Cross-Linking in a Supramolecular Binder on Cycle Life in Silicon Microparticle Anodes

Self-healing supramolecular binder was previously found to enhance the cycling stability of micron-sized silicon particles used as the active material in lithium-ion battery anodes. In this study, we systematically control the density of cross-linking junctions in a modified supramolecular polymer binder in order to better understand how viscoelastic materials properties affect cycling stability. We found that binders with relaxation times on the order of 0.1 s gave the best cycling stability with 80% capacity maintained for over 175 cycles using large silicon particles (similar to 0.9 um). We attributed this to an improved balance between the viscoelastic stress relaxation in the binder and the stiffness needed to maintain mechanical integrity of the electrode. The more cross-linked binder showed markedly worse performance confirming the need for liquid-like flow in order for our self-healing polymer electrode concept to be effective.