Eco-Friendly Gallic Acid-Tailored Binder with Synergistic Polarity Sites for High-Loading Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Xulong Jing, Shuyu Liu, Jiapei Wang, Chao Wan, Juan Zhu, Xiaojun He () and Biyu Jin ()
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Xulong Jing: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma’anshan 243002, China
Shuyu Liu: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma’anshan 243002, China
Jiapei Wang: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma’anshan 243002, China
Chao Wan: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma’anshan 243002, China
Juan Zhu: College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
Xiaojun He: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma’anshan 243002, China
Biyu Jin: College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Ma’anshan 243002, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-14

Abstract: The development of polymer binders with tailored functionalities and green manufacturing processes is highly needed for high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries. In this study, a readily hydrolyzable 3,9-divinyl-2,4,8,10-tetraoxaspiro-[5.5]-undecane is utilized to prepare a water-based binder. Specifically, the acrolein produced by hydrolysis undergoes in situ polymerization to form a linear polymer, while the other hydrolyzed product, pentaerythritol, physically crosslinks these polymer chains via hydrogen bonding, generating a network polymer (BTU). Additionally, gallic acid (GA), a substance derived from waste wood, is further introduced into BTU during slurry preparation, forming a biphenol-containing binder (BG) with a multi-hydrogen-bonded structure. This resilience and robust cathode framework effectively accommodate volumetric changes during cycling while maintaining efficient ion and electron transport pathways. Furthermore, the abundant polar groups in BG enable strong polysulfide adsorption. As a result, sulfur cathode with a high mass loading of 5.3 mg cm −2 employing the BG (7:3) binder still retains an areal capacity of 4.7 mA h cm −2 after 50 cycles at 0.1 C. This work presents a sustainable strategy for battery manufacturing by integrating renewable biomass-derived materials and eco-friendly aqueous processing to develop polymer binders, offering a green pathway to high-performance lithium–sulfur batteries.

Keywords: lithium–sulfur battery; sustainable water-soluble binder; hydrolysis-driven synthesis; multi-hydrogen-bonded structure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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