Composition for lithium ion battery electrodes

1. An aqueous composition for making lithium ion battery electrodes, said aqueous composition comprising

(a) 63% or more by dry weight, based on the total weight of (a), (b), and (c), of one or more binder polymers in the form of latex particles, wherein the latex particles have a volume-average diameter of 200 nm or smaller,

(b) one or more polyvinyl alcohols that are carboxylated or sulfonated or both, in an amount from 5% to 25% by weight based on the total weight of (a), (b), and (c), and

(c) one or more water-soluble cellulose derivatives that have a viscosity of 1,000 to 10,000 mPa*s in a 1% by weight solution at 25° C., in an amount from 1% to 12% by weight based on the total weight of (a), (b), and (c).

2. The composition of claim 1 , said composition additionally comprising one or more cathode compounds that comprise lithium.

3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said polyvinyl alcohol comprises sulfonated polyvinyl alcohol.

4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said water-soluble cellulose derivative comprises sodium carboxymethyl cellulose.

5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein said binder polymer comprises one or more acrylic polymer.

6. A method of making an electrode suitable for use in a lithium ion battery, wherein said method comprises

(i) providing an aqueous slurry comprising

(a) 63% or more by dry weight, based on the total weight of (a), (b), and (c), of one or more binder polymers in the form of latex particles, wherein the latex particles have a volume-average diameter of 200 nm or smaller,

(b) one or more polyvinyl alcohols that are carboxylated or sulfonated or both, in an amount from 5% to 25% by weight based on the total weight of (a), (b), and (c),

(c) one or more water-soluble cellulose derivatives that have a viscosity from 1,000 to 10,000 mPa*s in a 1% by weight solution at 25° C. of, in an amount from 1% to 12% by weight based on the total weight of (a), (b), and (c), and

(d) one or more conductive materials;

(ii) forming a layer of said slurry on a metal substrate; and

(iii) drying said layer of said slurry.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said electrode is a cathode, and wherein said slurry additionally comprises

(e) one or more cathode compounds that comprise lithium.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein said electrode is an anode, and wherein said slurry comprises one or more anode compounds, wherein each of said one or more anode compounds may be the same as one or more of said conductive materials or may be different from any of said conductive materials.

9. An electrode suitable for use in a lithium ion battery, wherein said electrode comprises

(a) 63% or more by dry weight, based on the total weight of (a), (b), and (c), of one or more binder polymers,

(b) one or more polyvinyl alcohols that are carboxylated or sulfonated or both, in an amount from 5% to 25% by weight based on the total weight of (a), (b), and,

(c) one or more water-soluble cellulose derivatives that have a viscosity from 1,000 to 10,000 mPa*s in a 1% by weight solution at 25° C., in an amount from 1% to 12% by weight based on the total weight of (a), (b), and (c), and

(d) one or more conductive material.

10. The electrode of claim 9 , wherein said electrode is a cathode, and wherein said electrode additionally comprises

(e) one or more cathode compounds that comprise lithium.

11. The electrode of claim 9 , wherein said electrode is an anode, and wherein said electrode comprises one or more anode compounds, wherein each of said one or more anode compounds may be the same as one or more of said conductive materials or may be different from any of said conductive materials.