Electrode binder composition for lithium ion electrical storage devices

1. An electrode slurry for a lithium ion secondary battery comprising:

(a) an electrically active material capable of lithium interoalation/deinteroalation,

(b) a binder comprising as separate components:

a dispersion of:

(i) a poiyvinylidene fluoride polymer dispersed in an organic dispersion medium with

(ii) a (meth)acrylic polymer dispersant, and

(c) a conductive agent

wherein the (meth) acrylic polymer dispersant is curable in that the (meth)acrylic polymer is prepared from a mixture of monomers comprising one or more active hydrogen-containing monomers and

(i) a monomer that contains reactive groups that are reactive with the active hydrogen groups or with themselves and and/or

(ii) a separately added crosslinking agent that is reactive with active hydrogen groups.

2. The electrode slurry of claim 1 in which (a) comprises LiCoO 2 , LiNiO 2 , LiFePO 4 , LiCoPO 4 , LiMnO 2 ,LiMn 2 O 4 , Li(NiMnCo)O 2 , Li(NiCoAl)O 2 , carbon-coated LiFePO 4 , or mixtures thereof.

3. The electrode slurry of claim 1 in which (a) is LiFePO 4 .

4. The electrode slurry of claim 1 in which (c) comprises graphite, activated carbon, acetylene black, furnace black or graphene.

5. The electrode slurry of claim 1 in which

(a) is present in amounts of 45 to 96 percent by weight;

(b) is present in amounts of 2 to 20 percent by weight; and

(c) is present in amounts of 2 to 20 percent by weight;

the percentages by weight being based on total solids weight.

6. The electrode slurry of claim 1 in which the (meth)acrylic polymer has a glass transition temperature less than 100° C.

7. The electrode slurry of claim 1 in which the (meth)acrylic polymer has a glass transition temperature of −50 to +70 9 C.

8. The electrode slurry of claim 1 in which the (meth)acrylic polymer is prepared from a mixture of monomers comprising one or more active hydrogen group-containing (meth)acrylic monomers.

9. The electrode slurry of claim 8 in which the active hydrogen groups comprise carboxylic acid groups.

10. The electrode slurry of claim 9 in which the active hydrogen groups additionally comprise hydroxyl groups.

11. The electrode slurry of claim 1 in which the reactive groups comprise N-alkoxymethyl (meth)acrylemide groups and/or blocked isocyanate groups.

12. The electrode slurry of claim 1 in which the crosslinking agent comprises arninoplast, blocked polyisocyanates end/or polyepoxides.

13. The electrode slurry of claim 1 in which the polyvinylidene fluoride polymer is present in amounts of 50 to 98 percent by weight; the (meth)acrylic polymer is present in amounts of 2 to 50 percent by weight and the separately added crosslinking agent is present in amounts of 1 to 15 percent by weight, the percentages by weight being based on resin solids.

14. The electrode slurry of claim 1 in which the organic dispersion medium comprises ketones, esters and ethers, including mixtures thereof.

15. The electrode slurry of claim 14 in which the organic dispersion medium is present in amounts of 30 to 90 percent by weight, based on total weight of the electrode slurry.

16. The electrode slurry of claim 1 in which the organic dispersion medium is free of N-methyl-3-pyrroldone.