Electrophoretic deposition of binder free electrodes for lithium ion batteries

Current batteries for soldier systems rely on many different standard power source sizes, shapes and weights. The integration of power sources into space-limited platforms and to fit to a soldier correctly is difficult. Conventional layer by layer manufacturing approaches are still relied on for battery production. 3D battery systems offer the potential to produce batteries that are bespoke to equipment size and shape whilst maintaining the advantages of the thin film battery manufacturing techniques. There are several techniques available to produce these 3D battery systems and this thesis will look at the application of on one such technique, electrophoretic deposition to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery positive electrode materials. Electrophoretic deposition is a technique where an electric field is used to deposit particles from a colloidal suspension onto a conducting surface.This thesis will present the development of the electrophoresis technique for flat plate samples of the LFP through deposition from a suspension of LFP particles in iso propyl alcohol with a metal salt. The results of studies using cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy will then be presented and discussed in relation to deposition parameters and to gain a greater understanding of the resistances present between the LFP particles in the binder and carbon additive-free electrodes