Designing multifunctional binders for next-generation batteries: Strategies to improve longevity, safety, and electrochemical performance

The global transition toward clean and sustainable energy has intensified the demand for efficient and durable energy storage systems, particularly rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles. Beyond active materials, the binder plays a crucial yet often underappreciated role in determining factors including electrode integrity, mechanical robustness, and ion/electron transport pathways that directly influence battery performance, longevity, and safety. Conventional binders such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) suffer from poor adhesion, limited mechanical flexibility, and low tolerance to electrode volume fluctuations, leading to structural degradation and capacity fading. Recent advancements in binder design have focused on multifunctional systems that integrate self-healing capabilities, enhanced ionic/electronic conductivity, and dynamic cross-linked architectures. Strategies including reversible bonding, supramolecular interactions, and three-dimensional polymeric networks have shown great promise in addressing the limitations of traditional systems. This review critically discusses these emerging developments, emphasizing the mechanistic insights and design principles that guide the evolution of binder chemistry. Finally, it highlights technological directions for developing next-generation, sustainable binders tailored for advanced battery chemistries and large-scale industrial implementation.