High energy density, durability, sustainability, low cost and safety are some of the characteristics that Li-ion batteries should fulfil in order to be used as energy storage systems. LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) is an attractive cathode material for Li-ion batteries due to its unique properties: i) operating voltage of ~ 4.7 V vs. Li/Li⁺ for high energy density, ii) fast lithiumion diffusion due to 3D connected channels, resulting in excellent rate capability, iii) Co-free for costs reduction and reduced ethical concerns related to Co mining, and iv) Ni/Mn-based composition for materials cost and availability. On the other hand, PVdF has been the dominant binder because of its chemical stability, good mechanical properties and compatibility with electrode materials. However, PVdF-based systems rely on organic solvents such as NMP and are categorized as PFAS, raising environmental and safety concerns. For layered oxide battery cathodes such as NMC or NCA, it is a common strategy to use large particles for density combined with smaller and/or single-crystal particles for improved transport and durability 1. In this work, different water-based formulations which combine CMC and a F-free elastomer were used to evaluate the effect of mixing single crystal (LNMOSC) and polycrystalline spherical (LNMOSP) LNMO
energiGUNE et al. (Mon,) studied this question.