Silicon-containing electrodes including cross-linked polymeric binders and methods for preparing the same

An electrode for an electrochemical cell that cycles lithium ions, the electrode comprising:

• a silicon-containing electroactive material comprising a plurality of silicon-containing electroactive material particles;
• and
• a polymeric network forming polymeric cages around each of the silicon-containing electroactive material particles of the plurality, the polymeric cages comprising polyacrylic acid (PAA), lithiated polyacrylic acid (PAALi), or a combination of polyacrylic acid (PAA) and lithiated polyacrylic acid (PAALi) covalently bonded with poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA), and the polymeric network having a mass ratio of the polyacrylic acid (PAA), the lithiated polyacrylic acid (PAALi), or the combination of the polyacrylic acid (PAA) and the lithiated polyacrylic acid (PAALi) to the poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA) is greater than or equal to about 0.5 to less than or equal to about 10.

A method for preparing a silicon-containing electrode, the method comprising:

• heating an electroactive material slurry disposed adjacent to one or more surfaces of a current collector to a temperature greater than or equal to about 120° ° C. to less than or equal to about 180° ° C. to form the silicon-containing electrode, wherein the electroactive material slurry comprises a plurality of silicon-containing electroactive material particles and polymeric binders comprising polyacrylic acid (PAA) and poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA), wherein after the heating, the silicon-containing electrode comprises a polymeric network that contacts each of the silicon-containing electroactive material particles of the plurality of silicon-containing electroactive material particles, the polymeric network comprising the polyacrylic acid (PAA) cross-linked with the poly(2-hydroxyethyl acrylate) (PHEA).