(359d) Green Solvent Exploration in Li Ion Battery Electrode Fabrication: A Sustainable Approach

State-of-the-art Li ion battery manufacturing primarily focuses on the electrode fabrication process with minimum environmental concern. Current method “slurry casting” process involves a toxic organic solvent N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP). Though successful, NMP is declared as a priority substance in USA under the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA), due to its slow biodegradability and high carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic risks to the human health. Thus, a greener alternative of toxic NMP is urgently required for the sustainable fabrication of electrode. Recently our group developed an advanced cathode fabrication process using two greener alternatives of NMP, methyl-5-(dimethylamino)-2-methyl-5-oxopentanoate (PolarClean) and dimethyl isosorbide. I will elaborate the finding here