Development of bio-sustainable binder for battery electrode manufacturing

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binders make up around 2-3% of a lithium-ion batteries (LIB) electrode’s mass and are crucial for battery integrity, safety, and performance. However, with the European Chemicals Agency imposing bans on PVDF and other polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by 2030, the Swedish battery industry faces a pressing need for fluorine-free alternatives.
In collaboration with Northvolt, we are developing two novel bio-sourced binder chemistries to replace PVDF. The first is based on mono itaconic esters that are derived from citric acid, the other involves bio-derived Elastane, a form of segmented polyurethane that can be sustainably produced from corn-starch. Both chemicals demonstrate promising performance improvements over PVDF, with great potential for modification and greater performance.
Our joint efforts aim to fully develop these sustainable binder alternatives, addressing urgent environmental concerns and aligning with upcoming regulatory changes.

Jinhua Sun
Chalmers
jinhua@chalmers.se
Project information
Participants
Chalmers
Northvolt
Time schedule
December 2023 - December 2027
Total cost of project
6 595 000 SEK
Swedish Energy Agency project number
2023-01041
More projects

The future of biofuel production in the EU – potentials, technologies and policies
Biofuel markets in the EU are undergoing rapid changes. Changes in the policy landscape due to increased climate ambitions is expected to…
Manager: Jonas Zetterholm
Ongoing

Surplus electricity to biomethane via intermittent hydrogen injection in post-digestion systems
In the route to mitigate global warming and phase out fossil energy sources, solar and wind power represent an increasing share of…
Manager: Jan Moestedt
Ongoing

Catalyst and process development for energy efficient production of bio-based vinyl acetate
Biobased ethanol as feedstock for the chemical industry is a promising alternative to fossil oil products, but the transition requires development of…
Manager: Mathilda Johansson
Ongoing