Water-Soluble Binders for Graphite Anode in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used for their high energy density, long cycle life, and broad applications in portable electronics and electric vehicles. However, they still face important challenges related to cost and environmental impact, which has increased the interest in polymeric binders for composite electrodes. Binders play a key role in maintaining electrode integrity, improving adhesion, controlling slurry properties, and influencing electrochemical performance. This review focuses on binders used in graphite anodes, with a particular emphasis on water-soluble binders such as CMC, SBR, PTFE, alginate, chitin, and some polysaccharide alternatives to conventional binders like PVDF and PNA. Special attention is given to their functions and mechanisms, their main properties (e.g., tensile strength, elasticity and flexibility, adhesion, electrical conductivity, thermal and chemical stability), and their roles in electrode stability. The review also discusses the limitations of conventional binder systems and highlights major challenges. Overall, water-soluble binders appear as promising candidates for developing safer, greener, and high-performance negative electrodes for next-generation lithium-ion batteries.