Enhanced electrochemical performance of SnS-PPy-carbon black composite with a locust bean gum as a binder as in anode in lithium-ion batteries

Water-soluble binders – locust bean gum (LBG) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were tested with the SnS anode modified by new conducting material polypyrrole – carbon black composite (PPyCB) and compared with the environmentally unfriendly widely used polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) as an organic binder. The electrochemical properties of tested electrodes were investigated by galvanostatic charging/discharging tests, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Kinetic parameters of electrode processes were calculated from resistances. The first discharge capacities were 2150 mAh g-1 , 1250 mAh g-1 and 960 mAh g-1 for SnS-PPyCB-LBG, SNS-PPyCB-CMC, and SnS-PPyCCB-PVdF respectively. The exchange current density for the SnS-PPyCB electrode is in the range of 4.6 × 10−6 mA cm−2 for the system with carboxymethyl cellulose to 1.97 × 10−6 mA cm−2 in the cell with LBG). Compared to PVdF, locust bean gum is an equally effective binder and may even enhance electrode kinetics.