Our new publication in Electrochimica Acta "Binder-dependent electrochemical properties of high entropy oxide anodes for lithium-ion batteries"

High entropy oxide (HEO) materials have recently emerged as promising anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In this study, we conduct the first comparative analysis to investigate the influence of various electrode binders on electrochemical properties of (CrMnFeNiCu)3O4 HEO anodes. The organic-solvent-soluble polyvinylidene fluoride and water-soluble polyvinyl formamide, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate, and sodium polyacrylate (NaPAA) binders are examined. Notably, the NaPAA binder leads to a significant enhancement in the HEO performance. The NaPAA coating on (CrMnFeNiCu)3O4 effectively improves the electrode charged discharge Coulombic efficiency and mitigates the electrode deterioration. Binder adhesion strength and stability toward electrolyte are assessed. The charge-transfer resistance and apparent Li+ diffusion of the HEO electrodes with various binders, accompanied by the post-cycling analyses, are examined. By employing the NaPAA binder, exceptional electrode capacities of 800 and 495 mAh g–1 are attained at charge-discharge rates of 50 and 2000 mA g–1, respectively, without noticeable capacity degradation after 300 cycles. The thermal reactivity of the lithiated electrodes is investigated using differential scanning calorimetry, and the impact of binders on the electrode exothermic onset temperature and total heat released is studied. Our findings provide valuable insights for enhancing the performance and safety of HEO anodes for LIBs.