Chanmonirath (Michael) Chak, Vadim Shipitsyn, Lin Ma, Joseph E. Remias

Abstract:

Phase separation during the slurry preparation process significantly shortens the slurry’s usable lifetime, negatively impacting coating uniformity on the current collector and degrading electrochemical performance. This study investigates the effect of a small amount of proprietary dispersant on the slurry stability and electrochemical behavior of LiMn0.6Fe0.4PO4 (LMFP) cathode. Three dispersant concentrations were tested and compared with a pristine sample containing no dispersant. A combination of digital microscopy, slurry storage evaluation, scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and long-term cycling were used to assess the influence of dispersant on both slurry behavior and electrode performance. Results demonstrate that even a small amount, 0.01 wt%, of proprietary dispersant effectively suppresses phase separation, enabling better slurry handling and coating consistency, while preserving the electrode’s morphology and electrochemical performance. These findings support the use of optimized dispersant strategies in the scalable production of LMFP electrodes.

Keywords: dispersant, slurry, LiMn0.6Fe0.4PO4, electrochemical performance, lithium-ion batteries.

Date Published: December 29, 2025
DOI: 10.11159/ijmmme.2025.001

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