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Carboxylated cellulose nanofibers (CNF) prepared using the TEMPO-route are good binders of electrode components in flexible lithium-ion batteries (LIB). However, the different parameters employed for the defibrillation of CNF such as charge density and degree of homogenization affect its properties when used as binder. This work presents a systematic study of CNF prepared with different surface charge densities and varying degrees of homogenization and their performance as binder for flexible LiFePO4electrodes. The results show that the CNF with high charge density had shorter fiber lengths compared with those of CNF with low charge density, as observed with atomic force microscopy. Also, CNF processed with a large number of passes in the homogenizer showed a better fiber dispersibility, as observed from rheological measurements. The electrodes fabricated with highly charged CNF exhibited the best mechanical and electrochemical properties. The CNF at the highest charge density (1550 μmol g–1) and lowest degree of homogenization (3 + 3 passes in the homogenizer) achieved the overall best performance, including a high Young’s modulus of approximately 311 MPa and a good rate capability with a stable specific capacity of 116 mAh g–1even up to 1 C. This work allows a better understanding of the influence of the processing parameters of CNF on their performance as binder for flexible electrodes. The results also contribute to the understanding of the optimal processing parameters of CNF to fabricate other materials, e.g., membranes or separators.

TEMPO oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNF) were used as binder material to prepare bendable Li4Ti5O12(LTO) electrodes. Carbon fiber (CF) layers were integrated as current collectors to enhance the mechanical properties and to increase the specific energy of the electrodes. These electrodes combined with CF current collectors (LTO/CF) show good electrochemical properties and are flexible, sustainable, mechanical and chemical stable, lightweight and produced by a water-based easy filtration process. An increase of the active material weight (LTO) from around 19% to 71% of the electrode and current collector combined weight is demonstrated with CF compared with a copper current collector. Additionally, preparation of the current collector material is non-expensive, quick and easy compared to that of carbon nanotube or graphene. To test the flexible battery application, 4000 times repeated bending was carried out on both the LTO electrodes and the LTO/CF electrodes. This had no significant effect on the morphology, mechanical and electrochemical properties of neither the LTO nor the LTO/CF electrodes. Addition of the CF layer improves the mechanical properties and specific capacity of the LTO-electrode. A thicker LTO electrode with only 2wt% TOCNF is demonstrated which is promising for thicker electrodes with high energy density. A full cell was assembled with the LTO/CF as negative electrode and LiFePO4(LFP)/CF as positive, which exhibited a stable cycling performance and good energy density.

Flexible Li-ion batteries attract increasing interest for applications in bendable and wearable electronic devices. TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNF), a renewable material, is a promising candidate as binder for flexible Li-ion batteries with good mechanical properties. Paper batteries can be produced using a water-based paper making process, avoiding the use of toxic solvents. In this work, finely dispersed TOCNF was used and showed good binding properties at concentrations as low as 4 wt %. The TOCNF was characterized using atomic force microscopy and found to be well dispersed with fibrils of average widths of about 2.7 nm and lengths of approximately 0.1–1 μm. Traces of moisture, trapped in the hygroscopic cellulose, is a concern when the material is used in Li-ion batteries. The low amount of binder reduces possible moisture and also increases the capacity of the electrodes, based on total weight. Effects of moisture on electrochemical battery performance were studied on electrodes dried at 110 °C in a vacuum for varying periods. It was found that increased drying time slightly increased the specific capacities of the LiFePO4electrodes, whereas the capacities of the graphite electrodes decreased. The Coulombic efficiencies of the electrodes were not much affected by the varying drying times. Drying the electrodes for 1 h was enough to achieve good electrochemical performance. Addition of vinylene carbonate to the electrolyte had a positive effect on cycling for both graphite and LiFePO4. A failure mechanism observed at high TOCNF concentrations is the formation of compact films in the electrodes.