Electrode contact support

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrode tab support. More specifically, the present invention relates to an electrode tab support comprising: a body portion; and a tab accommodating portion formed in the main body portion and configured to accommodate an electrode tab, in which the tab accommodating portion includes a first tab accommodating portion provided on a first side of the main body portion and a second tab accommodating portion provided on a second side of the main body portion, and a second joint accommodating portion provided on a second side of the main body portion, the first joint accommodating portion and the second joint accommodating portion being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a thickness direction of the main body portion, and being staggered relative to each other and not in a straight line in a length direction of the main body portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0121661, filed on September 13, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

[0002] The present invention relates to an electrode tab support. More particularly, the present invention relates to an electrode tab support including a first electrode tab receptacle and a second electrode tab receptacle. BACKGROUND

[0003] As technology develops and the demand for mobile devices increases, rechargeable secondary batteries are widely used as energy sources for various mobile devices. Secondary batteries are also attracting attention as energy sources for electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, which are proposed as a means to solve air pollution from conventional gasoline vehicles and diesel vehicles.

[0004] Secondary batteries are classified into coin-type batteries, cylindrical batteries, angular batteries, and pouch-type batteries based on the shape of the battery case. Among them, pouch-type batteries attract much attention because they form an exterior using a pouch exterior material including a multi-layer film of a metal layer (foil) and a synthetic resin coated on the upper and lower surfaces of the metal layer (which can significantly reduce the weight of the battery compared to cylindrical or angular batteries using a metal can), thereby enabling the weight of the battery to be reduced, and they have the advantage of being able to change into various shapes.

[0005] Pouch-type batteries are generally manufactured by a process of activating the battery cell after the battery assembly process. The activation process generally involves pressing the battery cell with a jig and applying a current to the battery cell to charge the battery cell and discharge the battery cell to a predetermined voltage.

[0006] In manufacturing pouch-type batteries, it is important that the battery cell is uniformly pressed during the battery assembly process. In particular, during a warm isostatic pressure (WIP) process in all-solid-state battery manufacturing, the tab portion of the electrode current collector is subjected to the same pressure as the electrode. In this case, the tab of the current collector protrudes outside the electrode, and when the cells are stacked, the tabs are separated from each other due to the thickness of the electrode, causing uneven pressure to be applied to the electrode region in contact with the tab, thereby causing unevenness and cracking of the electrode, which reduces cell life performance and affects cell stacking.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to develop an electrode tab support to prevent electrode cracking and form a uniform electrode to achieve excellent performance of an all-solid-state battery.

[0008] [Prior Art Reference]

[0009] [Patent Reference]

[0010] (Patent Reference 1) Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 10-2015-0106026 SUMMARY

[0011] TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0012] An object of the present application is to provide an electrode tab support capable of preventing electrode breakage and generating an electrode having a uniform thickness and size in a process of applying high pressure when manufacturing an all-solid-state battery.

[0013] Another object of the present application is to provide an electrode tab support capable of preventing performance and life deterioration of a battery cell.

[0014] Another object of the present application is to provide an electrode tab support that facilitates stacking of battery cells.

[0015] TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0016] One example of the present application provides an electrode tab support including: a main body portion; and a tab receiving portion formed on the main body portion and configured to receive an electrode tab, wherein the tab receiving portion includes a first tab receiving portion and a second tab receiving portion, wherein the first tab receiving portion is disposed on a first side of the main body portion, wherein the second tab receiving portion is disposed on a second side of the main body portion, wherein the first tab receiving portion and the second tab receiving portion are spaced apart from each other at a predetermined distance in a thickness direction of the main body portion and are staggered with each other and not in line with each other in a length direction of the main body portion.

[0017] In another example of the present application, an electrode tab support is provided, wherein the first tab receiving portion and the second tab receiving portion are spaced apart in the thickness direction of the main body portion and are alternately disposed with each other.

[0018] In another example of the present application, an electrode tab support is provided, wherein the first tab receiving portion and the second tab receiving portion are spaced apart from a third side of the main body portion in the thickness direction of the main body portion.

[0019] In another example of the present application, an electrode tab support is provided, wherein a distance d at which the first tab receiving portion and the second tab receiving portion are spaced apart in the thickness direction of the main body portion is the same as a lamination thickness of the electrode and an electrolyte layer.

[0020] In another example of the present invention, there is provided an electrode tab support in which the first tab accommodation portion accommodates a first electrode tab and the second tab accommodation portion accommodates a second electrode tab.

[0021] In another example of the present invention, there is provided an electrode tab support in which the tab accommodation portion is provided with three side surfaces adjoining the body portion.

[0022] In another example of the present invention, there is provided an electrode tab support in which the width W of the tab accommodation portion is equal to the thickness of the electrode tab.

[0023] In another example of the present invention, there is provided an electrode tab support in which the length L of the tab accommodation portion is equal to the width of the electrode tab.

[0024] In another example of the present invention, there is provided an electrode tab support in which the height of the tab accommodation portion is equal to the height H b .

[0025] In another example of the present invention, there is provided an electrode tab support in which the first tab accommodation portion can include a plurality of first tab accommodation portions, and the plurality of first tab accommodation portions can further include as many first tab accommodation portions as the number n of first electrodes.

[0026] In another example of the present invention, there is provided an electrode tab support in which the second tab accommodation portion can include a plurality of second tab accommodation portions, and the plurality of second tab accommodation portions can further include as many second tab accommodation portions as the number m of second electrodes.

[0027] In another example of the present invention, there is provided an electrode tab support in which the first side and the second side of the body portion face each other in the same direction as the thickness direction of the body portion.

[0028] In another example of the present invention, there is provided an electrode tab support in which the height H b of the body portion is less than or equal to the height H t of the electrode tab.

[0029] Another example of the present invention provides an electrode tab support in which the compression force deflection (CFD) of 50% of the body portion is 3000 kPa to 4000 kPa.

[0030] In another example of the present invention, the electrode tab support is used for an all-solid-state battery.

[0031] Advantageous Effects

[0032] The present application can provide an electrode tab support that prevents electrode breakage and produces an electrode having a uniform thickness and size in a process of applying high pressure in the manufacturing of an all-solid-state battery.

[0033] The present application can provide an electrode tab support that prevents deterioration of performance and lifespan of a battery cell.

[0034] The present application can provide an electrode tab support that facilitates stacking of battery cells. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an electrode tab support according to one example of the present application.

[0036] Figure 2 is a perspective view of an electrode tab support according to one example of the present application.

[0037] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an electrode tab support according to one example of the present application.

[0038] Figure 4 is a perspective view of an electrode tab support according to one example of the present application.

[0039] Figure 5 is a perspective view of an electrode tab support according to one example of the present application.

[0040] Figure 6 is a perspective view of an electrode tab support according to one example of the present application. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Examples of the present application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings can exaggerate all or part of the configuration for illustrative purposes only.

[0042] It will also be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present application is not limited to the details in the drawings and described herein, and that the present application can be implemented in various forms without departing from the technical idea of the present application.

[0043] In the process of manufacturing an all-solid-state battery, interface adhesion of an electrode is important for improving battery performance such as ionic conductivity, and a process of applying an electrode laminate under high pressure is required to achieve interface adhesion of the electrode. This means that the electrode laminate must be uniformly pressed during a warm isostatic pressing (WIP) process to facilitate migration of lithium ions during the manufacturing of an all-solid-state battery.

[0044] However, in the above isostatic pressing process, both the joint portion of the electrode and the electrode current collector are subjected to the same pressure, which causes the electrode edge where the electrode joint contacts to be crushed, resulting in a thinner thickness than the portion without the joint, stretches the electrode, and causes the electrode to break. The above problem occurs not only in a single cell in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are manufactured by stacking one sheet on top of another sheet, but also in a dual cell having a double-sided positive electrode or a double-sided negative electrode, and the higher the stack such as a dual cell, the greater the impact. This can result in poor performance and lifespan of the battery cell.

[0045] To solve these problems, the inventors of the present application have developed an electrode joint support that allows the electrode and the electrode joint to remain flat during the pressing process, thereby preventing the electrode from being formed unevenly and preventing the electrode from breaking.

[0046] Before specifically describing the electrode joint support according to one example of the present application, reference will first be made below to Figure 2 The configuration of a battery cell laminate that is accommodated by the electrode joint support will be briefly described.

[0047] Figure 2 is a separate perspective view showing the use of the electrode joint support according to one example of the present application.

[0048] Reference will be made to Figure 2 , the battery cell laminate can include a first electrode 301, an electrolyte layer 302, and a second electrode 303 stacked in order. Here, the first electrode 301 can be a positive electrode or a negative electrode. The second electrode 303 can be a negative electrode or a positive electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode can be different electrodes.

[0049] The electrolyte layer 302 is disposed between the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 303, and the size of the electrolyte layer 302 can be equal to the size of the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 303, or the electrolyte layer 302 can have a larger area than the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 303. Here, the electrolyte layer 302 can be a solid electrolyte, but is not limited thereto.

[0050] In addition, an electrode joint associated with the electrode of the battery cell laminate can be provided. Here, the electrode joint can include a first electrode joint 301a protruding from the top of the first electrode 301 and a second electrode joint 303a protruding from the top of the second electrode 303. In this case, the first electrode joint 301a and the second electrode joint 303a are spaced apart from each other and can be provided at both ends of the battery cell laminate.

[0051] In the battery cell laminate, the first electrode tab 301a and the second electrode tab 303a can each be accommodated in a tab accommodation portion of an electrode tab support. Reference is made to the following Figure 1 will be described in more detail.

[0052] Figure 1 is a drawing illustrating a perspective view of an electrode tab support according to one example of the present application, and Figure 4 is a drawing illustrating a plan view of an electrode tab support according to one example of the present application.

[0053] Reference is made to Figure 1 and Figure 4 An electrode tab support according to one example of the present application includes a main body portion 100, and a tab accommodation portion 200 formed in the main body portion and configured to accommodate an electrode tab, wherein the tab accommodation portion includes a first tab accommodation portion 201 and a second tab accommodation portion 202, wherein the first tab accommodation portion 201 is disposed on a first side of the main body portion, and the second tab accommodation portion 202 is disposed on a second side of the main body portion, wherein the first tab accommodation portion 201 and the second tab accommodation portion 202 can be spaced apart at a predetermined distance in a thickness direction of the main body portion, and staggered with each other and not in line with each other in a length direction of the main body portion.

[0054] According to one example, the electrode tab support 1 can include tab accommodation portions 201, 202 that accommodate an electrode tab. The tab accommodation portions 201, 202 can be integrally formed with the main body portion 100.

[0055] The tab accommodation portion can include a first tab accommodation portion 201 and a second tab accommodation portion 202.

[0056] The first tab accommodation portion 201 and the second tab accommodation portion 202 can be spaced apart in a thickness direction of the main body portion, and can be alternately arranged with each other.

[0057] The first tab accommodation portion 201 and the second tab accommodation portion 202 can be spaced apart from a third side of the main body portion in a thickness direction of the main body portion. Here, the third side of the main body portion can be a side parallel to a longitudinal direction of the main body portion. Reference is made to Figure 1 , the third side of the main body portion can be a side in the x-axis direction.

[0058] The first tab accommodation portion and the second tab accommodation portion are spaced apart in a thickness direction of the main body portion by a distance d that is the same as a laminate thickness of an electrode and an electrolyte layer.

[0059] The first tab accommodation portion 201 can be disposed on a first side of the main body portion 100, and the second tab accommodation portion 202 can be disposed on a second side of the main body portion 100.

[0060] The first side of the body portion can be a side parallel to the thickness direction of the body portion. Referring to Figure 1 , the first side of the body portion can be a side in the y-axis direction.

[0061] The second side of the body portion can be a side parallel to the thickness direction of the body portion. Referring to Figure 1 , the second side of the body portion can be a first side and a side different from the first side in the y-axis direction.

[0062] The first side and the second side can be sides facing each other in the same direction as the thickness direction of the body portion.

[0063] Referring to Figure 1 , the thickness direction of the body portion refers to the y-axis direction, and the length direction of the body portion refers to the x-axis direction.

[0064] The compression force deflection (CFD) of the body portion at 50% can be 3000 kPa to 4000 kPa. The CFD refers to the compression force deflection, which is an index that measures the force required to compress the body portion at a certain strain (e.g., 50%). According to the method of ASTM D3574 Test C, the CFD can be measured by applying a compression load of 4 kPa to a single-layer sample having a 10 mm span and a 10 mm length at 8 mm / min or 50 mm / min. In this case, the CFD of the body portion at 50% can be 3000 kPa or more, 3100 kPa or more, 3200 kPa or more, 3300 kPa or more, 3400 kPa or more, 3500 kPa or more, 4000 kPa or less, 3900 kPa or less, 3800 kPa or less, 3700 kPa or less, 3600 kPa or less.

[0065] The first joint accommodation portion 201 and the second joint accommodation portion 202 can be staggered from each other by a predetermined distance d, rather than being aligned in a straight line with each other in the length direction of the body portion 100. The reason why the first joint accommodation portion and the second joint accommodation portion are staggered from each other is that, in the battery cell laminate in which the first electrode 301, the electrolyte layer 302, and the second electrode 303 are sequentially stacked, the first electrode 301 and the second electrode 303 are not aligned in the same line due to their overlapping. For example, in the battery cell laminate stacked in the order of the first electrode, the electrolyte layer, and the second electrode, the first joint accommodation portion and the second joint accommodation portion can be staggered from each other by a predetermined distance d because the first joint accommodation portion and the second joint accommodation portion are spaced apart by the thickness of one or more first electrodes, one or more second electrodes, and / or one or more electrolyte layers.

[0066] Figure 3is a view showing the use of an electrode tab support according to one example of the present application.

[0067] Referring to Figure 3 , the first tab receiving portion 201 can receive the first electrode tab 301a, and the second tab receiving portion 202 can receive the second electrode tab 303a. The first electrode can be a positive electrode or a negative electrode, and the second electrode can be a negative electrode or a positive electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode can be different electrodes. However, the use of the electrode tab support is not limited to Figure 3 the use shown.

[0068] The electrode tab support according to one example of the present application can have a plurality of electrode tabs depending on the orientation of the electrode tabs. For example, although not shown, as Figure 2 shown, the orientation of the first electrode tab and the orientation of the second electrode tab are not in the same direction, the orientation of the first electrode tab and the orientation of the second electrode tab are opposite or in different directions, the first tab receiving portion of the first electrode tab support can receive the first electrode tab, and the second receiving portion of the second electrode tab support can receive the second electrode tab. Here, the first electrode tab support and the second electrode tab support can be different electrode tab supports. Therefore, a plurality of electrode tab supports according to the present application can be applied depending on the orientation of the electrode tabs.

[0069] The tab receiving portion can have three sides adjoining the body portion. The tab receiving portion can be a recessed structure in the body portion. The shape of the recess is not particularly limited, and can be any shape that can contain the shape of the electrode tab.

[0070] The width W of the tab receiving portion can be equal to the thickness of the electrode tab. The electrode tab can be a single electrode tab or two or more electrode tabs welded together. Welding refers to joining two or more electrode tabs together.

[0071] The length L of the tab receiving portion can be equal to the width of the electrode tab.

[0072] The height (not shown in the figure) of the tab receiving portion can be the same as the height H b of the body portion. Here, the height H b of the body portion can be less than or equal to the height H t of the electrode tab.

[0073] The first tab receiving portion can include a plurality of first tab receiving portions. The plurality of first tab receiving portions can include as many first tab receiving portions as the number n of the first electrode.

[0074] The second joint accommodation portion can include a plurality of second joint accommodation portions. The plurality of second joint accommodation portions can include as many second joint accommodation portions as the number m of the second electrodes.

[0075] Figure 5 and Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an electrode joint support according to an example of the present application.

[0076] Referring to Figure 5 , the electrode joint support 1 according to an example of the present application can include one first joint accommodation portion 201 and two second joint accommodation portions 202a, 202b.

[0077] Referring to Figure 6 , the electrode joint support 1 according to an example of the present application can include two first joint accommodation portions 201a, 201b and three second joint accommodation portions 202a, 202b, 202c.

[0078] The electrode joint support 1 according to an example of the present application can include n first joint accommodation portions (not shown in the drawings). n is the number of the first electrodes, and n is an integer between 1 and 100.

[0079] The electrode joint support according to an example of the present application can include m second joint accommodation portions (not shown in the drawings). m is the number of the first electrodes, and m is an integer between 1 and 100.

[0080] The electrode joint support can be used for manufacturing a full solid-state battery, but is not limited thereto, and can also be used in a battery manufacturing process involving pressure application.

[0081] Although examples of the present application have been described above, it is not intended to limit the present application to the above examples. Those skilled in the art will be able to practice the examples of the present application with suitable modifications (including omission, change, replacement, or addition of other configurations of all or some components of the present application) without departing from the technical idea of the present application, with reference to the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

[0082] The terms and expressions used herein are to be construed broadly and are not to be interpreted only in a restrictive sense. In the present specification, the expression "comprises" does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, in addition to the mentioned configurations.

[0083] In the present specification, singular expressions include plural, unless the context clearly excludes them.

[0084] Each of the example examples described herein can be combined with each other, and what is described in a particular example can be equally applied to other examples unless contradictory, even if not described in other examples.

[0085] [Reference Signs]

[0086] 1: electrode tab support

[0087] 100: main body portion

[0088] 201: first tab accommodating portion

[0089] 202: second tab accommodating portion

[0090] 301: first electrode

[0091] 301a: first electrode tab

[0092] 302: electrolyte layer

[0093] 303: second electrode

[0094] 303a: second electrode tab

[0095] W: width of tab accommodating portion

[0096] L: length of tab accommodating portion

[0097] H b : height of main body portion

Claims

1.An electrode tab support comprising: a body portion; and a tab accommodation portion formed in the body portion and configured to accommodate an electrode tab, wherein the tab accommodation portion includes a first tab accommodation portion and a second tab accommodation portion, wherein the first tab accommodation portion is disposed on a first side of the body portion, wherein the second tab accommodation portion is disposed on a second side of the body portion, wherein the first tab accommodation portion and the second tab accommodation portion are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance in a thickness direction of the body portion and are staggered with each other and not aligned with each other in a length direction of the body portion. 2.The electrode tab support of claim 1, wherein the first tab accommodation portion and the second tab accommodation portion are spaced apart in the thickness direction of the body portion and are alternately disposed with each other. wherein, 3.The electrode tab support of claim 1, wherein the first tab accommodation portion and the second tab accommodation portion are spaced apart from a third side of the body portion in the thickness direction of the body portion. wherein 4.The electrode tab support of claim 1, wherein a distance (d) by which the first tab accommodation portion and the second tab accommodation portion are spaced apart in the thickness direction of the body portion is the same as a lamination thickness of an electrode and an electrolyte layer. wherein 5.The electrode tab support of claim 1, wherein the first tab accommodation portion accommodates a first electrode tab, wherein wherein the second tab accommodation portion accommodates a second electrode tab. 6.The electrode tab support of claim 1, wherein the tab accommodation portion has three sides adjoining the body portion. wherein 7.The electrode tab support of claim 1, wherein a width (W) of the tab accommodation portion is equal to a thickness of the electrode tab. wherein, 8.The electrode tab support of claim 1, wherein a length (L) of the tab accommodation portion is equal to a width of the electrode tab. wherein 9.The electrode tab support of claim 1, 10.The electrode tab support of claim 1, wherein, The height of the joint housing is equal to the height of the body portion (H b ). wherein the first tab accommodation portion can include a plurality of first tab accommodation portions, wherein wherein the plurality of first tab accommodation portions can further include as many first tab accommodation portions as a number (n) of first electrodes. 11.The electrode tab support of claim 1, wherein the second tab accommodation portion can include a plurality of second tab accommodation portions, wherein, wherein the plurality of second tab accommodation portions can further include as many second tab accommodation portions as a number (m) of second electrodes. 12.The electrode tab support of claim 1, wherein the first side and the second side of the body portion are sides facing each other in the same direction as the thickness direction of the body portion. wherein 13.The electrode tab support of claim 1, 14.The electrode tab support of claim 1, wherein The height (H b ) of the body portion is less than or equal to the height (H t ) of the electrode terminal. 50% of a compression force deflection (CFD) of the body portion is 3000 kPa to 4000 kPa. wherein 15.The electrode tab support of claim 1, ​ wherein The electrode tab support is used for an all-solid-state battery.

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