How an invisible ingredient is helping create the next generation of safer, longer-lasting batteries When people think about battery innovation, they often picture revolutionary new materials or futuristic technologies. Yet some of the biggest breakthroughs come from the smallest and least visible components. One such example is the battery binder, a material so unassuming that few people outside the industry have ever heard of it. Binders are the glue that holds a battery’s active materials together. This humble ingredient plays a critical role in determining how efficiently a battery can be manufactured, how long it lasts, and how safely it performs. As electric vehicles (EVs) demand longer driving ranges and faster charging, the importance of the binder has grown significantly. The Problem with High-Nickel Batteries The challenge stems from the industry’s shift towards high-nickel batteries. These next-generation batteries can store more energy and reduce dependence on expensive cobalt, making them highly attractive for EV manufacturers. However, their greater energy density comes with drawbacks. During manufacturing, alkaline residues on high-nickel materials can react with conventional binders, causing the battery slurry, a paste-like mixture used to make electrodes, to harden much more quickly than desired. This leaves manufacturers with only a limited window to process materials, resulting in production inefficiencies and waste. The challenges do not end there. As batteries charge and discharge, high-nickel materials repeatedly expand and contract. Over time, this movement can weaken the battery’s internal structure, leading to faster performance degradation. Other unwanted reactions can also occur, including the formation of needle-like lithium deposits known as dendrites, which can affect both battery lifespan and safety. Reimagining the Fundamentals Rather than accepting these limitations as the cost of higher performance, researchers at ASTRI asked a different question: could the binder become an active solution rather than simply a supporting material? The result is Multiflex-NR9, an R&D 100 Award-winning innovation that demonstrates how rethinking a seemingly minor component can deliver major benefits. Developed using advanced surface-modification technologies, Multiflex-NR9 contains specially engineered acidic functional groups that help neutralise the alkaline compounds responsible for premature slurry hardening. As a result, electrode slurries that would normally remain workable for only a few hours can stay stable for up to ten days, giving manufacturers far greater flexibility and reducing material wastage. The innovation also strengthens the battery itself. By improving the bonding between battery particles, Multiflex-NR9 creates a more robust electrode structure that is better able to withstand the repeated expansion and contraction associated with high-nickel materials. The stronger internal structure helps maintain battery integrity through prolonged use and repeated charging cycles. In addition, Multiflex-NR9 helps reduce harmful side reactions inside the battery. Its enhanced ability to capture dissolved metal ions suppresses the growth of lithium dendrites and slows down battery degradation. The result is a battery that maintains its performance for longer while supporting safer operation. High Performance Without High Costs The performance gains are significant. Batteries using Multiflex-NR9 can retain approximately 93% of their capacity after 500 charge-discharge cycles and more than 90% after 1,000 cycles, outperforming conventional binder technologies. Importantly, these gains are achieved without requiring substantial changes to existing manufacturing processes or adding significant cost, making adoption practical for industry. Another advantage is versatility. Multiflex-NR9 is compatible with multiple battery chemistries, including nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM), lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) batteries. This flexibility enables the technology to support a wide range of applications as the battery industry continues to evolve. Hong Kong’s Strategic Edge For Hong Kong, Multiflex-NR9 highlights an important opportunity in the global clean energy transition. Rather than competing solely on large-scale battery manufacturing, the city can create value by developing enabling technologies that address industry-wide challenges and can be adopted globally. Innovations such as Multiflex-NR9 demonstrate how research and development can strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a source of high-impact solutions for the future of mobility and energy storage. The future of battery technology will not be shaped only by headline-grabbing breakthroughs. It will also depend on countless innovations behind the scenes that make batteries more reliable, efficient and accessible. Sometimes, the key to transforming an industry is not a revolutionary new invention, but an unsung hero that quietly helps everything work better. Enquiries: corporate@astri.org
