The electrochemical performance of Si electrodes using polyvinylidene fluoride binder heated at different temperatures ranging from 150 to 350 degrees C was investigated. Compared to unheated electrodes that have no capacity after the first formation cycle, the heat-treated electrodes show an increasingly improved cycling performance as the heating temperature increases from 150 to 300 degrees C. In particular, Si electrodes heated at 300 degrees C retain a specific capacity of similar to 600 mAh/g for 50 cycles with a lower cutoff potential of 0.170 V vs Li/Li+. The reasons for such improvements are considered based on results from thermal analysis, optical microscopy, and adhesion tests. It is suggested that heat-treatment improves the binder distribution, the adhesion to the Si particles and to the substrate, thereby leading to a better cycling performance. (C) 2008 The Electrochemical Society.