Energy　storage　devices　with　high　power　and　energy　density　are　in　demand　owing　to　the　rapidly　growing　population,　and　lithium-ion　batteries　(LIBs)　are　promising　rechargeable　energy　storage　devices.　However,　there　are　many　issues　associated　with　the　development　of　electrode　materials　with　a　high　theoretical　capacity,　which　need　to　be　addressed　before　their　commercialization.　Extensive　research　has　focused　on　the　modification　and　structural　design　of　electrode　materials,　which　are　usually　expensive　and　sophisticated.　Besides,　polymer　binders　are　pivotal　components　for　maintaining　the　structural　integrity　and　stability　of　electrodes　in　LIBs.　Polyvinylidene　difluoride　(PVDF)　is　a　commercial　binder　with　superior　electrochemical　stability,　but　its　poor　adhesion,　insufficient　mechanical　properties,　and　low　electronic　and　ionic　conductivity　hinder　its　wide　application　as　a　high-capacity　electrode　material.　In　this　review,　we　highlight　the　recent　progress　in　developing　different　polymeric　materials　(based　on　natural　polymers　and　synthetic　non-conductive　and　electronically　conductive　polymers)　as　binders　for　the　anodes　and　cathodes　in　LIBs.　The　influence　of　the　mechanical,　adhesion,　and　self-healing　properties　as　well　as　electronic　and　ionic　conductivity　of　polymers　on　the　capacity,　capacity　retention,　rate　performance　and　cycling　life　of　batteries　is　discussed.　Firstly,　we　analyze　the　failure　mechanisms　of　binders　based　on　the　operation　principle　of　lithium-ion　batteries,　introducing　two　models　of　＇interface　failure＇　and　＇degradation　failure＇.　More　importantly,　we　propose　several　binder　parameters　applicable　to　most　lithium-ion　batteries　and　systematically　consider　and　summarize　the　relationships　between　the　chemical　structure　and　properties　of　the　binder　at　the　molecular　level.　Subsequently,　we　select　silicon　and　sulfur　active　electrode　materials　as　examples　to　discuss　the　design　principles　of　the　binder　from　a　molecular　structure　point　of　view.　Finally,　we　present　our　perspectives　on　the　development　directions　of　binders　for　next-generation　high-energy-density　lithium-ion　batteries.　We　hope　that　this　review　will　guide　researchers　in　the　further　design　of　novel　efficient　binders　for　lithium-ion　batteries　at　the　molecular　level,　especially　for　high　energy　density　electrode　materials.　©　2024　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry.