Commentary Contributed by Dr. John Duffy, Product Marketing Manager, Malvern Panalytical

October 20, 2017 | The multistep process used to manufacture battery electrodes must be closely controlled to produce components that deliver desirable electrochemical performance. In order to achieve this, the rheological properties of the slurries used during processing must be optimized, since these properties affect important characteristics such as slurry stability, ease of mixing, and coating performance, which impact on the properties of the finished electrode. Electrode slurries typically include electrochemically active materials, conductive additives, and binders, in addition to solvent, and both composition and the properties of each component can have an impact on the rheology of the resulting suspension. However, so too can the processing conditions applied. Each process step subjects a slurry to different stresses and each optimally calls for different rheological characteristics. Read more about Optimal Rheology, Better Electrodes: Understanding the Links Between Battery Slurry Properties and Electrode Performance …