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Sains Malaysiana 54(11)(2025): 2757-2771
http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2025-5411-15
(UV-Photografting
of Functionalized Acrylates onto Epoxidized Natural Rubber for Use as Binders in
Lithium-Ion Batteries)
CHAI KAI LING1,2,
JEREMY NG JIAN HAO1, LIN RULEI3, ZHOU CHANG JI4,
WONG CHEE SIEN4,5 & LEE TIAN KHOON1,2,*
1Department of Chemical Science, Faculty of
Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor,
Malaysia
2Battery Technology Research Group (UKMBATT),
Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM
Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
3Guoneng (Zhejiang) Energy Development Co., Ltd.,
Room 504, Building 2, No.799 Huanzhan East Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou,
China
4Zhejiang
Province. Zhejiang Casnovo New Materials Co., Ltd. No.1 Zhongke Road, Zhanmao
Street, Putuo District, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, China
5School of Petrochemical Engineering and
Environment, Zhejiang Ocean University, No. 1, Haida South Road, Lincheng
Street, Dinghai District, Zhoushan City, Zhejiang Province, China
Diserahkan: 27 Jun 2025/Diterima: 13 November 2025
Abstrak
Kajian
ini memfokuskan kepada pengubahsuaian terhadap getah asli terepoksida-25%
(ENR-25) melalui proses fotopempolimeran menggunakan sinaran UV bersama etilena
glikol metil eter akrilat (EGMEA) bagi menghasilkan bahan pengikat baharu
berasaskan getah yang dikenali sebagai Poli(EGMEA-g-ENR). ENR-25 dipilih
disebabkan sifat elastomer semula jadinya yang fleksibel serta keupayaannya
membentuk struktur rangkaian silang yang stabil. EGMEA pula berperanan sebagai
penderma kumpulan akrilat yang bersifat polar, yang berpotensi meningkatkan
interaksi dengan ion litium dan menambah baik sifat mekanikal serta lekatan
pengikat terhadap komposit bahan aktif dalam elektrod. Hasil pencirian
menunjukkan bahawa pencantuman EGMEA telah berjaya memperkenalkan kumpulan
berfungsi -COOR (ester) ke dalam struktur polimer ENR-25, sekali gus
meningkatkan keupayaan penyerapan ion dan sifat elektrokimia. Bahan pengikat Poli(EGMEA-g-ENR)
yang dihasilkan menunjukkan rintangan pemindahan cas yang jauh lebih rendah
(171.3 Ω) berbanding ENR-25 tulen (16,319.0 Ω). Ujian
galvanostatik turut mencatatkan kapasiti nyahcas awal sebanyak
144.43 mAh g-1 dengan kecekapan Coulombik mencapai
96.75%. Secara keseluruhan, hasil kajian ini membuktikan bahawa pengubahsuaian
ENR-25 melalui fotopempolimeran dengan EGMEA berpotensi menghasilkan bahan
pengikat mesra alam yang berprestasi tinggi untuk aplikasi dalam bateri
litium-ion.
Kata
kunci: Bahan pengikat; bateri litium-ion; fotopempolimeran UV; prestasi
elektrokimia; Poli(EGMEA-g-ENR)
Abstract
This
study focuses on the modification of 25% epoxidized natural rubber (ENR-25)
through a photopolymerization process using UV irradiation in the presence of
ethylene glycol methyl ether acrylate (EGMEA), to produce a novel rubber-based
binder known as Poly(EGMEA-g-ENR). ENR-25 was selected due to its
inherent flexible elastomeric properties and its ability to form a stable
crosslinked network structure. EGMEA serves as a donor of polar acrylate
groups, which has the potential to enhance interactions with lithium ions and
improve the mechanical properties and adhesion of the binder to the active
material composite in the electrode. Characterization results showed that the
grafting of EGMEA successfully introduced –COOR (ester) functional groups into
the ENR-25 polymer structure, thereby enhancing ion absorption capacity and
electrochemical performance. The resulting Poly(EGMEA-g-ENR) binder
exhibited a significantly lower charge transfer resistance (171.3 Ω)
compared to pure ENR-25 (16,319.0 Ω). Galvanostatic tests also
recorded an initial discharge capacity of 144.43 mAh g-1 with a Coulombic efficiency of 96.75%. Overall, the findings of this study
demonstrate that the modification of ENR-25 via photopolymerization with EGMEA
holds great potential for producing a high-performance, environmentally
friendly binder material for lithium-ion battery applications.
Keywords:
Binder material; electrochemical performance; lithium-ion battery; Poly(EGMEA-g-ENR);
UV photopolymerization
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*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: tiankhoon@ukm.edu.my
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