Wet coating process for making solid state battery cells with thermoplastic elastomer adhesives

Abstract

The present invention provides a battery cell comprising A anode electrodes, C cathode electrodes, and S separators, each anode electrode comprising an anode active material layer comprising an anode active material and an anode current collector, the cathode electrode includes a cathode current collector and a cathode active material layer comprising a cathode active material, wherein A, C, and S are integers greater than 1. At least one of the anode active material layers of the A anode electrodes, the cathode active material layers of the C cathode electrodes, and the S separators includes a thermoplastic binder.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to solid-state battery cells and, more particularly, to a wet coating method for making solid-state battery cells using a thermoplastic elastomer adhesive. Background Art

[0002] The information provided in this section is intended to generally introduce the background of the present disclosure. To the extent that work currently named as inventors is described in this section, and aspects of the specification that may not have been otherwise identified as prior art at the time of filing, are not admitted, either explicitly or implicitly, as prior art to the present disclosure.

[0003] The present disclosure relates to solid-state battery cells and, more particularly, to a wet coating method for making solid-state battery cells using a thermoplastic elastomer adhesive.

[0004] Electric vehicles (EVs), such as battery electric vehicles (BEVs), hybrid vehicles, and / or fuel cell vehicles, include one or more electric motors and a battery system including one or more battery cells, modules, and / or battery packs. A power control system is used to control the charging and / or discharging of the battery system during charging and / or driving. Summary of the invention

[0005] A battery cell includes A anode electrodes, C cathode electrodes, and S separators, each anode electrode including an anode current collector and an anode active material layer including an anode active material, the cathode electrode including a cathode current collector and a cathode active material layer including a cathode active material, wherein A, C, and S are integers greater than 1. At least one of the anode active material layers of the A anode electrodes, the cathode active material layers of the C cathode electrodes, and the S separators includes a thermoplastic binder.

[0006] In other features, the cathode active material layer of the C cathode electrodes comprises 50 wt % to 98 wt % of the cathode active material layer and 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the thermoplastic binder of the cathode active material layer.

[0007] In other features, the cathode active material layer of the C cathode electrodes comprises at least one of a solid electrolyte and a conductive additive. The solid electrolyte accounts for 1 wt % to 50 wt % of the cathode active material layer. The conductive additive accounts for 0.1 wt % to 8 wt % of the cathode active material layer. The thermoplastic binder accounts for 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the cathode active material layer.

[0008] In other features, the cathode active material is selected from rock salt layered oxides, spinels, polyanions, lithium transition metal oxides, surface coated and / or doped cathode materials and combinations thereof. The thermoplastic binder comprises a block copolymer containing polystyrene and the polystyrene ratio is 10% to 70%. The thermoplastic binder is selected from styrene-ethylene-propylene (SEP), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene / propylene-styrene (SEPS), ethylene-branched SEPS, ethylene-branched styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), styrene-[ethylene-(ethylene-propylene)]-styrene (SEEPS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), ethylene-branched SEEPS and SEEPS with hydroxyl groups (SEEPS-OH).

[0009] In other features, the anode active material layer of the A anode electrodes comprises 50 wt % to 98 wt % of the anode active material layer and 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the thermoplastic binder of the anode active material layer.

[0010] In other features, the anode active material layer of the A anode electrode comprises at least one of a solid electrolyte and a conductive additive. The solid electrolyte accounts for 1 wt % to 50 wt % of the anode active material layer. The conductive additive accounts for 0.1 wt % to 8 wt % of the anode active material layer. The thermoplastic binder accounts for 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the anode active material layer. The anode active material is selected from silicon-based materials, carbonaceous materials, metal oxides, and combinations thereof.

[0011] In other features, the solid electrolyte is selected from a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, a halide-based solid electrolyte, and a hydride-based solid electrolyte.

[0012] In other features, the S separators include a solid electrolyte and a thermoplastic binder.

[0013] A method for manufacturing an electrode for a solid-state battery includes mixing a thermoplastic binder, a solvent, and an active material to form a slurry; and coating the slurry on a current collector and drying the slurry to form an active material layer of the electrode.

[0014] In other features, the solvent has a polarity number of 0.1 to 6.5. The active material comprises 50 wt % to 98 wt % of the active material layer, and the thermoplastic binder comprises 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the active material layer. The method includes adding at least one of a solid electrolyte and a conductive additive to the slurry prior to coating.

[0015] In other features, the thermoplastic binder is selected from styrene-ethylene-propylene (SEP), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene / propylene-styrene (SEPS), ethylene-branched SEPS, ethylene-branched styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), styrene-[ethylene-(ethylene-propylene)]-styrene (SEEPS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), ethylene-branched SEEPS and SEEPS with hydroxyl groups (SEEPS-OH).

[0016] A method for manufacturing an electrolyte layer on a substrate, comprising mixing a thermoplastic binder with a solvent to form a solution; and forming a slurry by adding a solid electrolyte to the solution. The solid electrolyte is selected from a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, a halide-based solid electrolyte, and a hydride-based solid electrolyte. The method comprises applying the slurry to one of a film and an active material layer of an electrode and drying the slurry.

[0017] In other features, the solvent has a polarity number of 0.1 to 6.5. The thermoplastic binder comprises 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the electrolyte layer. The solid electrolyte comprises 80 wt % to 99 wt % of the electrolyte layer.

[0018] In other features, the thermoplastic binder is selected from styrene-ethylene-propylene (SEP), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene / propylene-styrene (SEPS), ethylene-branched SEPS, ethylene-branched styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), styrene-[ethylene-(ethylene-propylene)]-styrene (SEEPS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), ethylene-branched SEEPS and SEEPS with hydroxyl groups (SEEPS-OH).

[0019] The present invention discloses the following scheme:

[0020] Solution 1. A battery cell comprising:

[0021] A anode electrodes, each anode electrode comprising an anode current collector and an anode active material layer comprising an anode active material;

[0022] C cathode electrodes including a cathode current collector and a cathode active material layer including a cathode active material; and

[0023] S spacers, wherein A, C and S are integers greater than 1,

[0024] wherein at least one of the anode active material layer of the A anode electrodes, the cathode active material layer of the C cathode electrodes, and the S separators comprises a thermoplastic binder.

[0025] Option 2. The battery cell according to Option 1, wherein the cathode active material layer of the C cathode electrodes comprises:

[0026] the cathode active material, which accounts for 50 wt % to 98 wt % of the cathode active material layer, and

[0027] The thermoplastic binder accounts for 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the cathode active material layer.

[0028] Option 3. The battery cell according to Option 1, wherein the cathode active material layer of the C cathode electrodes comprises at least one of a solid electrolyte and a conductive additive.

[0029] Option 4. The battery cell according to Option 3, wherein:

[0030] The solid electrolyte accounts for 1 wt % to 50 wt % of the cathode active material layer,

[0031] The conductive additive accounts for 0.1 wt % to 8 wt % of the cathode active material layer, and

[0032] The thermoplastic binder accounts for 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the cathode active material layer.

[0033] Option 5. A battery cell according to Option 1, wherein the cathode active material is selected from rock salt layered oxides, spinels, polyanions, lithium transition metal oxides, surface coated and / or doped cathode materials and combinations thereof.

[0034] Embodiment 6. The battery cell according to Embodiment 1, wherein the thermoplastic adhesive comprises a block copolymer containing polystyrene and the proportion of polystyrene is 10% to 70%.

[0035] Option 7. A battery cell according to Option 6, wherein the thermoplastic adhesive is selected from styrene-ethylene-propylene (SEP), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene / propylene-styrene (SEPS), ethylene-branched SEPS, ethylene-branched styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), styrene-[ethylene-(ethylene-propylene)]-styrene (SEEPS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), ethylene-branched SEEPS and SEEPS with hydroxyl groups (SEEPS-OH).

[0036] Option 8. The battery cell according to Option 1, wherein the anode active material layer of the A anode electrodes comprises:

[0037] the anode active material, which accounts for 50 wt % to 98 wt % of the anode active material layer, and

[0038] The thermoplastic binder accounts for 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the anode active material layer.

[0039] Option 9. The battery cell according to Option 8, wherein the anode active material layer of the A anode electrodes comprises at least one of a solid electrolyte and a conductive additive.

[0040] Embodiment 10. The battery cell of embodiment 9, wherein:

[0041] The solid electrolyte accounts for 1 wt % to 50 wt % of the anode active material layer,

[0042] The conductive additive accounts for 0.1 wt % to 8 wt % of the anode active material layer, and

[0043] The thermoplastic binder accounts for 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the anode active material layer.

[0044] Option 11. A battery cell according to Option 1, wherein the anode active material is selected from silicon-based materials, carbonaceous materials and metal oxides and combinations thereof.

[0045] Option 12. A battery cell according to Option 9, wherein the solid electrolyte is selected from a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, a halide-based solid electrolyte, and a hydride-based solid electrolyte.

[0046] Option 13. A battery cell according to Option 9, wherein the S separators comprise a solid electrolyte and a thermoplastic adhesive.

[0047] Solution 14. A method for manufacturing an electrode of a solid-state battery, comprising:

[0048] mixing a thermoplastic binder, a solvent, and an active material to form a slurry; and

[0049] The slurry is coated on a current collector and dried to form an active material layer of an electrode.

[0050] Scheme 15. The method according to Scheme 14, wherein:

[0051] The solvent has a polarity number of 0.1 to 6.5,

[0052] The active material accounts for 50 wt % to 98 wt % of the active material layer, and

[0053] The thermoplastic binder accounts for 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the active material layer.

[0054] Option 16. A method according to Option 14, which also includes adding at least one of a solid electrolyte and a conductive additive to the slurry before coating.

[0055] Option 17. A method according to Option 14, wherein the thermoplastic adhesive is selected from styrene-ethylene-propylene (SEP), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene / propylene-styrene (SEPS), ethylene-branched SEPS, ethylene-branched styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), styrene-[ethylene-(ethylene-propylene)]-styrene (SEEPS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), ethylene-branched SEEPS and SEEPS with hydroxyl groups (SEEPS-OH).

[0056] Scheme 18. A method for manufacturing an electrolyte layer on a substrate, comprising:

[0057] mixing a thermoplastic binder and a solvent to form a solution;

[0058] by adding a solid electrolyte to the solution to form a slurry,

[0059] wherein the solid electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, a halide-based solid electrolyte, and a hydride-based solid electrolyte; and

[0060] The slurry is applied to one of the membrane and the active material layer of the electrode and the slurry is dried.

[0061] Scheme 19. The method according to Scheme 18, wherein:

[0062] The solvent has a polarity number of 0.1 to 6.5,

[0063] The thermoplastic binder accounts for 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the electrolyte layer, and

[0064] The solid electrolyte accounts for 80 wt % to 99 wt % of the electrolyte layer.

[0065] Option 20. A method according to Option 18, wherein the thermoplastic adhesive is selected from styrene-ethylene-propylene (SEP), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene / propylene-styrene (SEPS), ethylene-branched SEPS, ethylene-branched styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), styrene-[ethylene-(ethylene-propylene)]-styrene (SEEPS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), ethylene-branched SEEPS and SEEPS with hydroxyl groups (SEEPS-OH).

[0066] Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, claims and drawings.The detailed description and specific examples are intended to be illustrative only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0067] The present disclosure will be more fully understood through the detailed description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0068] Figure 1 is a side cross-sectional view of an example of a solid-state battery cell according to the present disclosure, the solid-state battery cell including a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a separator disposed in a battery cell housing;

[0069] Figure 2 is a more detailed side cross-sectional view of an example of a solid-state battery cell according to the present disclosure, the solid-state battery cell including a cathode electrode, an anode electrode, and a separator disposed in a battery cell housing;

[0070] Figure 3 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing an electrode comprising a thermoplastic elastomer binder for a solid-state battery cell according to the present disclosure;

[0071] Figure 4 is a flow chart of a method for manufacturing an electrolyte membrane comprising a thermoplastic elastomer binder for a solid-state battery cell according to the present disclosure;

[0072] Figure 5 is a flow chart of a method for making a composite electrode comprising a thermoplastic elastomer binder for a solid-state battery cell according to the present disclosure; and

[0073] Figure 6 is a graph illustrating an example of capacity retention of a solid-state battery cell using a thermoplastic elastomer adhesive according to the present disclosure as a function of cycle number.

[0074] Among the drawings, reference numerals may be repeated to identify similar and / or identical elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0075] Although solid-state battery cells according to the present disclosure are shown in the context of electric vehicles, solid-state battery cells may be used in stationary applications and / or other applications.

[0076] There are a variety of different methods for making electrodes and / or separators for battery cells. For example, some battery cells can be made by dry pressing a powder mixture including a solid electrolyte (SE), such as a sulfide-based SE (S-SE), onto other layers, such as electrodes or membranes. In other examples, a dry fibrillation method is used and includes compressing / shearing the dry powder mixture and using a binder such as PTFE. In other examples, a wet coating method is used and includes mixing active materials, solid electrolytes, binders, conductive fillers, and / or solvents to form a slurry and applying the slurry to a current collector.

[0077] The wet coating method may be the most promising method for the large-scale production of battery cells using sulfide-based solid electrolytes (S-SE). When using S-SE, a low-polarity solvent compatible with S-SE is used according to the present disclosure. However, current binders such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) are not soluble in low-polarity solvents.

[0078] The present disclosure relates to a method for making SSBs using a wet coating method and a thermoplastic elastomer binder. The thermoplastic binder forms a strong bond between the active material particles and the current collector surface. For example, NCM-Si battery cells produced using the method further described below have high capacity retention after cycling (e.g., about 76.12% after 500 cycles at 0.5C, room temperature).

[0079] Reference now Figure 1 , the solid-state battery cell 10 includes C cathode electrodes 20, A anode electrodes 40, and S separators 32 arranged in a predetermined order in a battery cell stack 12 located in a housing 50, where C, S, and A are integers greater than 0. The C cathode electrodes 20-1, 20-2, ..., and 20-C include a cathode active material layer 24 arranged on one or both sides of a cathode current collector 26. The A anode electrodes 40-1, 40-2, ..., and 40-A include an anode active material layer 42 arranged on one or both sides of an anode current collector 46.

[0080] In some examples, the anode active material layer 42 and / or the cathode active material layer 24 are free-standing electrodes that are disposed adjacent to (or attached to) the cathode current collector 26 and / or the anode current collector 46, respectively. In some examples, the anode active material layer 42 and / or the cathode active material layer 24 include a coating comprising one or more active materials, one or more conductive fillers / additives, and / or one or more binder materials applied to the current collector.

[0081] In some examples, the cathode current collector 26 and / or the anode current collector 46 include metal foil, metal mesh or porous metal mesh. In some examples, the cathode current collector 26 and / or the anode current collector 46 are made of one or more materials selected from copper, stainless steel, brass, bronze, zinc, aluminum and / or their alloys. The external tabs 28 and 48 of the current collectors connected to the cathode electrode and the anode electrode, respectively, can be arranged on the same side or opposite sides of the battery stack 12. The external tabs 28 and 48 are connected to the terminals of the battery cells.

[0082] Reference now Figure 2 , an example of a solid-state battery cell is shown. At least one of the anode electrode, cathode electrode and separator is made using a thermoplastic adhesive. The cathode active material layer 24 includes a cathode active material 110, a thermoplastic adhesive 114 (optional) and a solid electrolyte 112 (optional). The S separators 32 include a solid electrolyte 120 and a thermoplastic adhesive 124 (optional). The anode active material layer 42 includes an anode active material 130, a solid electrolyte 132 (optional) and a thermoplastic adhesive 134 (optional). Although the cathode electrode 20, the anode electrode 40 and the separator 32 are shown as having a thermoplastic adhesive, one or more of the cathode electrode 20, the anode electrode 40 and / or the separator 32 include a thermoplastic adhesive (in any combination).

[0083] Reference now Figure 3 , a method 300 for making an electrode is shown. At 310, a binder and a solvent are mixed to form a solution A. At 314, a solid electrolyte and / or a conductive additive are optionally added to solution A to form a suspension B. At 322, an active material is added to the suspension B to form a slurry. At 326, the slurry is coated onto the surface of a current collector and dried to form an active material layer of the electrode.

[0084] For example, the electrode layer includes an electrode active material, a solid electrolyte, a conductive additive, and a thermoplastic adhesive. In some instances, the electrode active material accounts for 50% to 98% by weight of the active material layer. In some instances, the electrode active material accounts for 70% to 98% by weight of the active material layer. In some instances, the solid electrolyte accounts for 1% to 50% by weight of the active material layer. In some instances, the solid electrolyte accounts for 1% to 30% by weight of the active material layer. In some instances, the conductive additive accounts for 0.1% to 8% by weight of the active material layer. In some instances, the thermoplastic adhesive accounts for 1% to 20% by weight. In some instances, the thermoplastic adhesive accounts for 1% to 10% by weight of the active material layer. In some instances, the thermoplastic adhesive accounts for 2% to 5% by weight of the active material layer.

[0085] In some examples, the slurry comprises a low polarity solvent, a solid electrolyte and an electrode active material (in the same proportion as the electrode layer). In some examples, the solid content of the slurry is 20% to 75%. In some examples, the solid content of the slurry is 30% to 50%.

[0086] In some instances, low polarity solvents have a polarity number of 0.1 to 6.5. The polarity of a solvent is determined by its dielectric constant, which is a measure of its ability to separate positive and negative charges. Solvents with a dielectric constant greater than about 5 are considered "polar," while solvents with a dielectric constant less than 5 are considered "non-polar." Polar solvents typically dissolve other polar substances because they carry positive and negative charges, which attract the opposite charges of the polar substances. When a solid molecule is placed in a polar solvent, it may dissolve if it itself has polarity. In some instances, low polarity solvents include at least one of anisole, p-xylene, tetrahydrofuran (THF), heptane, ethyl propionate, methyl propionate, and the like.

[0087] For the cathode electrode, the cathode active material is selected from rock salt layered oxides, spinels, polyanions, lithium transition metal oxides, surface coated and / or doped cathode materials, and / or low voltage materials. Examples of rock salt layered oxides include LiCoO2, LiNi x Mn y Co 1-x-y O2、LiNi x MnyAl 1-x-y O2、LiNi x Mn 1-x O2、Li 1+x MO2. Examples of spinels include LiMn2O4, LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O4. Examples of polyanion cathodes include (LiV2(PO4)3).

[0088] Examples of surface-coated and / or doped cathode materials include LiNbO3-coated LiMn2O4, Li2ZrO3 or Li3PO4-coated LiNi x Mn y Co 1-x-y O2 and Al-doped LiMn2O4. Examples of low-pressure materials include lithiated metal oxides / sulfides (e.g., LiTiS2), Li2S, and sulfur.

[0089] For the anode electrode, the anode active material is selected from silicon-based materials, carbonaceous materials and metal oxides. Examples of silicon-based materials include Si, SiO x 、LiSiO x 、Si / C、SiO x / C and LiSiO x / C. Examples of carbonaceous materials include graphite, hard carbon, soft carbon, etc. Examples of metal oxides include tin oxide (SnO2), iron oxide (Fe3O4), etc.

[0090] In some examples, the thermoplastic adhesive comprises a block copolymer containing polystyrene, wherein the polystyrene comprises 10% to 70% of the thermoplastic adhesive. In some examples, the thermoplastic adhesive comprises a block copolymer containing polystyrene, wherein the polystyrene comprises 30% to 45% of the thermoplastic adhesive.

[0091] The example of thermoplastic adhesive includes block copolymer and random block copolymer. The example of block copolymer includes styrene-ethylene-propylene (SEP), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene / propylene-styrene (SEPS), ethylene-branched SEPS and ethylene-branched styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS)). The example of random block copolymer includes styrene-[ethylene-(ethylene-propylene)]-styrene (SEEPS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), ethylene-branched SEEPS and SEEPS with hydroxyl group (SEEPS-OH).

[0092] In some examples, the solid electrolyte includes a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, a halide-based solid electrolyte, a hydride-based solid electrolyte, or other solid electrolytes having low grain boundary resistance.

[0093] In some embodiments, the solid electrolyte is selected from pseudo binary sulfides, pseudo ternary sulfides, and pseudo quaternary sulfides. Examples of pseudo binary sulfides include Li2S-P2S5 systems (Li3PS4, Li7P3S 11 and Li 9.6 P3S 12 ), Li2S-SnS2 system (Li4SnS4), Li2S-SiS2 system, Li2S-GeS2 system, Li2S-B2S3 system, Li2S-Ga2S3 system, Li2S-P2S3 system and Li2S-Al2S3 system.

[0094] Examples of pseudo-ternary sulfides include the Li2O-Li2S-P2S5 system, the Li2S-P2S5-P2O5 system, the Li2S-P2S5-GeS2 system (Li 3.25 Ge 0.25 P 0.75 S4 and Li 10 GeP2S 12)、Li2S-P2S5-LiX (X=F, Cl, Br, I) system (Li6PS5Br, Li6PS5Cl, L7P2S8I and Li4PS4I), Li2S-As2S5-SnS2 system (Li 3.833 Sn 0.833 As 0.166 S4), Li2S-P2S5-Al2S3 system, Li2S-LiX-SiS2 (X=F, Cl, Br, I) system, 0.4LiI·0.6Li4SnS4 and Li 11 Si2PS 12 Examples of pseudo-quaternary sulfides include the Li2O-Li2S-P2S5-P2O5 system, Li 9.54 Si 1.74 P 1.44 S 11.7 Cl 0.3 、Li7P 2.9 Mn 0.1 S 10.7 I 0.3 and Li 10.35 [Sn 0.27 Si 1.08 ]P 1.65 S 12 .

[0095] Examples of halide-based solid electrolytes include Li3YCl6, Li3InCl6, Li3YBr6, LiI, Li2CdCl4, Li2MgCl4, Li2CdI4, Li2ZnI4, Li3OCl. Examples of hydride-based solid electrolytes include LiBH4, LiBH4-LiX (X = Cl, Br or I), LiNH2, Li2NH, LiBH4-LiNH2, Li3AlH6.

[0096] Reference now Figure 4 , a method 400 for manufacturing an electrolyte membrane is shown. At 410, a thermoplastic binder and a solvent are combined to form a solution C. At 414, a solid electrolyte is added to the solution C to form a suspension D (corresponding to a slurry). At 418, the slurry is applied to the surface of the membrane to form an electrolyte membrane.

[0097] Reference now Figure 5 , a method 500 for manufacturing an electrolyte membrane on an electrode is shown. At 510, a thermoplastic binder and a solvent are combined to form a solution E. At 514, a solid electrolyte is added to the solution E to form a suspension F (corresponding to a slurry). At 418, the slurry is coated onto the surface of a current collector to form a composite electrode.

[0098] The solid electrolyte layer comprises a solid electrolyte and a thermoplastic binder. The solid electrolyte accounts for 80% to 100% by weight. In some examples, the solid electrolyte accounts for 90% to 100% by weight. In some examples, if used, the thermoplastic binder accounts for 1% to 20% by weight. In some examples, the thermoplastic binder accounts for 1% to 10% by weight. In some examples, the thermoplastic binder accounts for 2% to 8% by weight.

[0099] In some instances, the electrolyte layer has a thickness of 10 μm to 300 μm. In some instances, the electrolyte layer has a thickness of 10 μm to 50 μm. In some instances, the electrolyte layer has a porosity of 3% to 50% before concentration. In some instances, the electrolyte layer has a porosity of 3% to 20% before concentration. In some instances, the slurry has a solid content of 20% to 70% (e.g., and the solvent is 30% to 75%). In some instances, the slurry has a solid content of 30% to 50% (e.g., and the solvent is 50% to 70%).

[0100] Reference now Figure 6 , the capacity retention rate is shown as a function of the number of cycles. The battery cell includes a silicon anode having a lithium phosphorus sulfide chloride (LPSCl) solid electrolyte and a thermoplastic binder. The cathode electrode includes NMC, an LPSCl solid electrolyte, and a conductive filler (Super P). The solid electrolyte layer includes LPSCl pellets. The N / P ratio of the battery cell is about 2.5 (wherein is the capacity ratio between the negative electrode and the positive electrode). The thermoplastic binder, the solid electrolyte, and the Si powder are added to the solvent one by one, and are mixed and stirred thoroughly between each step to obtain a mixed slurry. The slurry is applied to the anode current collector. The thermoplastic binder provides a strong bond between the silicon nanoparticles and between the silicon nanoparticles and the copper foil, which contributes to the stable cycling of the NCM-Si battery cell. It can be seen that the capacity retention rate is relatively high after multiple cycles (for example, the capacity retention rate is about 76.12% after 500 cycles at 0.5C and room temperature).

[0101] The foregoing description is essentially only exemplary and is absolutely not intended to limit the present disclosure, its application or use. The broad teachings of the present disclosure can be implemented in various forms. Therefore, although the present disclosure includes specific examples, the true scope of the present disclosure should not be limited thereto, because after studying the drawings, the specification and the following claims, other modifications will become apparent. It should be understood that one or more steps in the method may be implemented in different orders (or simultaneously) without changing the principles of the present disclosure. In addition, although each embodiment is described above as having certain features, any one or more features described with respect to any embodiment of the present disclosure may be implemented in any other embodiment and / or combined with the features of any other embodiment, even if the combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and the mutual replacement of one or more embodiments is still within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0102] Various terms are used to describe the spatial and functional relationships between elements (e.g., between modules, circuit elements, semiconductor layers, etc.), including "connected," "engaged," "coupled," "adjacent," "next to," "on top of," "on," "under," and "disposed." Unless explicitly described as "directly," when describing the relationship between a first element and a second element in the above disclosure, the relationship can be a direct relationship in which there are no other intervening elements between the first element and the second element, or an indirect relationship in which there are one or more intervening elements (spatially or functionally) between the first element and the second element. The phrase "at least one of A, B, and C" as used herein should be interpreted to mean a logical (A or B or C) using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be interpreted to mean "at least one A, at least one B, and at least one C."

[0103] In the drawings, the direction of the arrows, as shown by arrows, generally demonstrates the flow of information (such as data or instructions) related to the diagram. For example, when component A and component B exchange various information but the information transmitted from component A to component B is related to the diagram, the arrow may point from component A to component B. Such a unidirectional arrow does not mean that no other information is transmitted from component B to component A. In addition, for the information transmitted from component A to component B, component B may send a request for the information to component A or a receipt of the information.

Claims

1. A battery cell, comprising: A anode electrodes, each anode electrode comprising an anode current collector and an anode active material layer comprising an anode active material; C cathode electrodes comprising a cathode current collector and a cathode active material layer comprising a cathode active material; and S spacers, wherein A, C and S are integers greater than 1, wherein at least one of the anode active material layer of the A anode electrodes, the cathode active material layer of the C cathode electrodes, and the S separators comprises a thermoplastic binder.

2. The battery cell of claim 1 , wherein the cathode active material layer of the C cathode electrodes comprises: the cathode active material, which accounts for 50 wt % to 98 wt % of the cathode active material layer, and The thermoplastic binder accounts for 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the cathode active material layer. 3 . The battery cell of claim 1 , wherein the cathode active material layers of the C cathode electrodes comprise at least one of a solid electrolyte and a conductive additive.

4. The battery cell according to claim 3, wherein: The solid electrolyte accounts for 1 wt % to 50 wt % of the cathode active material layer, The conductive additive accounts for 0.1 wt % to 8 wt % of the cathode active material layer, and The thermoplastic binder accounts for 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the cathode active material layer.

5. The battery cell according to claim 1, wherein the cathode active material is selected from the group consisting of rock salt layered oxides, spinels, polyanions, lithium transition metal oxides, surface coated and / or doped cathode materials, and combinations thereof. 6 . The battery cell according to claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic adhesive comprises a block copolymer containing polystyrene and the polystyrene ratio is 10% to 70%.

7. The battery cell according to claim 6, wherein the thermoplastic binder is selected from styrene-ethylene-propylene (SEP), styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene / propylene-styrene (SEPS), ethylene-branched SEPS, ethylene-branched styrene-isoprene-styrene (SIS), styrene-[ethylene-(ethylene-propylene)]-styrene (SEEPS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), ethylene-branched SEEPS, and SEEPS with hydroxyl groups (SEEPS-OH).

8. The battery cell of claim 1 , wherein the anode active material layer of the A anode electrodes comprises: the anode active material, which accounts for 50 wt % to 98 wt % of the anode active material layer, and The thermoplastic binder accounts for 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the anode active material layer.

9. The battery cell of claim 8, wherein the anode active material layer of the A anode electrodes comprises at least one of a solid electrolyte and a conductive additive.

10. The battery cell according to claim 9, wherein: The solid electrolyte accounts for 1 wt % to 50 wt % of the anode active material layer, The conductive additive accounts for 0.1 wt % to 8 wt % of the anode active material layer, and The thermoplastic binder accounts for 1 wt % to 20 wt % of the anode active material layer.

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