ELECTRODES INCLUDING POLYACRYLATE BINDERS AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME

1 . An electrode composition comprising:

a powdered active material capable of undergoing lithiation and delithiation; and

a non-elastomeric binder comprising lithium polyacrylate,

wherein the powdered active material comprises a lithium metal oxide comprising at least one of cobalt, manganese, and nickel.

2 . An electrode composition according to claim 1 , wherein the lithium metal oxide comprises cobalt, manganese and nickel.

3 . An electrode composition according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of lithium polyacrylate is 5 or more weight percent of the weight of the total composition.

4 . An electrode composition according to claim 1 , wherein the powdered material further comprises iron, titanium, or vanadium.

5 . An electrode composition according to claim 1 , wherein the powdered material comprises lithium cobalt oxide.

6 . An electrochemical cell comprising:

a positive electrode;

a negative electrode; and

an electrolyte,

wherein the positive electrode comprises a non-elastomeric binder comprising lithium polyacrylate, and

wherein the powdered active material comprises a lithium metal oxide comprising at least one of cobalt, manganese, and nickel.

7 . An electrochemical cell according to claim 6 , wherein powdered active material comprises a lithium metal oxide comprising at least one of cobalt, manganese, and nickel.

8 . An electrochemical cell according to claim 6 , wherein the amount of lithium polyacrylate in the non-elastomeric binder is 5 or more weight percent of the weight of the total composition.

9 . An electrochemical cell according to claim 6 , wherein the powdered active material further comprises a material selected from iron, titanium, vanadium, and combinations thereof.

10 . An electrochemical cell according to claim 6 , wherein the cell further comprises a secondary electrochemical cell.

11 . An electrochemical cell according to claim 6 , wherein the negative electrode comprises a silicon alloy.

12 . An electrochemical cell according to claim 6 , wherein the alloy further comprises iron, titanium, or vanadium.

13 . An electrochemical cell according to claim 6 , wherein the negative electrode comprises graphitic carbon.

14 . A battery pack comprising at least electrochemical cell according to claim 6 .

15 . A method of making an electrochemical cell electrode comprising:

providing a current collector;

providing a powdered active material capable of undergoing lithiation and delithiation; and

applying to the current collector a coating that comprises the powdered active material and lithium polyacrylate,

wherein the powdered active material comprises a lithium metal oxide comprising at least one of cobalt, manganese, and nickel.

16 . A method of making an electrochemical cell electrode according to claim 15 , wherein powdered active material comprises a lithium metal oxide comprising at least one of cobalt, manganese, and nickel.

17 . A method of making an electrochemical cell electrode according to claim 15 , wherein the amount of lithium polyacrylate in the non-elastomeric binder is 5 or more weight percent of the weight of the total composition.

18 . A method of making an electrochemical cell electrode according to claim 15 , wherein the powdered active material further comprises a material selected from iron, titanium, vanadium, and combinations thereof

19 . A method of making an electrochemical cell electrode according to claim 15 , wherein applying the coating further comprises:

mixing the powdered material with a solution of lithium polyacrylate to form a dispersion;

milling the dispersion to form a coatable mixture;

coating the mixture onto the current collector; and

drying the coated current collector.