Coating device

Abstract

The technical concept of the present disclosure provides a coating apparatus including: a coating mold including a first electrode paste discharge port for discharging a first electrode paste, a first insulating liquid discharge port for discharging a first insulating liquid, a second electrode paste discharge port for discharging a second electrode paste, and a second insulating liquid discharge port for discharging the second insulating liquid; a first coating pad inserted into the coating mold and including a first electrode slurry flow channel communicating with the first electrode slurry discharge port and a first insulating liquid flow channel communicating with the first insulating liquid discharge port; and a second coating pad inserted into the coating mold and including a second electrode slurry flow channel communicating with the second electrode slurry discharge port and a second insulating liquid flow channel communicating with the second insulating liquid discharge port, in which the solid content of the first insulating liquid is different from the solid content of the second insulating liquid.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to a coating apparatus.

[0002] This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0079153, filed on June 18, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Background Technology

[0003] With technological advancements and increasing demands for mobile devices, the need for secondary batteries as an energy source is rapidly growing. These secondary batteries include electrode assemblies. The electrode assemblies are formed by stacking a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode at least once or multiple times. The positive and negative electrodes are manufactured by coating a coating liquid onto current collectors made of aluminum foil and copper foil, respectively. The coating liquid may include an electrode slurry (positive electrode active material slurry or negative electrode active material slurry) and / or an insulating liquid coated on both sides of the electrode slurry layer to insulate the electrode slurry-coated layer. Summary of the Invention

[0004] Technical issues

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by this disclosure is to provide a coating apparatus.

[0006] Technical solution

[0007] To address the aforementioned problems, the present disclosure provides a coating apparatus comprising: a coating mold including a first electrode slurry outlet for discharging a first electrode slurry, a first insulating liquid outlet for discharging a first insulating liquid, a second electrode slurry outlet for discharging a second electrode slurry, and a second insulating liquid outlet for discharging a second insulating liquid; a first coating pad inserted into the coating mold and including a first electrode slurry channel communicating with the first electrode slurry outlet and a first insulating liquid channel communicating with the first insulating liquid outlet; and a second coating pad inserted into the coating mold and including a second electrode slurry channel communicating with the second electrode slurry outlet and a second insulating liquid channel communicating with the second insulating liquid outlet, wherein the solid content of the first insulating liquid is different from the solid content of the second insulating liquid.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the coating mold includes: a first mold block comprising a first manifold for receiving the first electrode slurry and a first internal flow channel communicating with the first insulating liquid flow channel of the first coating pad; a second mold block comprising a second manifold for receiving the second electrode slurry and a second internal flow channel communicating with the second insulating liquid flow channel of the second coating pad; and a third mold block located between the first mold block and the second mold block, wherein the first coating pad is located between the first mold block and the third mold block, and the second coating pad is located between the second mold block and the third mold block.

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, the coating apparatus further includes: a first insulating liquid supply unit that supplies the first insulating liquid to the coating mold; and a second insulating liquid supply unit that supplies the second insulating liquid to the coating mold, wherein the first insulating liquid supplied from the first insulating liquid supply unit and the second insulating liquid supplied from the second insulating liquid supply unit have different solid contents.

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, the coating apparatus further includes a coating roller supporting a substrate being conveyed along a conveying direction, wherein the first insulating liquid outlet and the second insulating liquid outlet are sequentially arranged along the conveying direction of the substrate, and the solid content of the second insulating liquid is greater than the solid content of the first insulating liquid.

[0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the viscosity of the second insulating liquid is greater than the viscosity of the first insulating liquid.

[0012] In an exemplary embodiment, the solid content of the first insulating liquid is between 10 wt.% and 20 wt.%, and the solid content of the second insulating liquid is between 25 wt.% and 30 wt.%.

[0013] In an exemplary embodiment, the first electrode slurry outlet and the second electrode slurry outlet are arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the substrate, the first electrode slurry outlet is located on one side of the first insulating liquid outlet, and the second electrode slurry outlet is located on one side of the second insulating liquid outlet.

[0014] In an exemplary embodiment, the coating apparatus further includes a coating roller that supports a substrate being conveyed along a conveying direction, wherein the first insulating liquid outlet and the second insulating liquid outlet are arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the substrate, and the solid content of the first insulating liquid is greater than the solid content of the second insulating liquid.

[0015] In an exemplary embodiment, the viscosity of the first insulating liquid is greater than the viscosity of the second insulating liquid.

[0016] In an exemplary embodiment, the coating mold is configured to simultaneously discharge the first electrode slurry, the second electrode slurry, the first insulating liquid, and the second insulating liquid onto the substrate.

[0017] In an exemplary embodiment, the coating apparatus is configured to coat the substrate with a first electrode slurry layer formed by the first electrode slurry, a second electrode slurry layer formed by the second electrode slurry, a first insulating layer formed by the first insulating liquid, and a second insulating layer formed by the second insulating liquid, wherein the second electrode slurry layer is stacked on the first electrode slurry layer, and the second insulating layer is stacked on the first insulating layer.

[0018] Beneficial effects

[0019] According to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, by simultaneously discharging a first electrode paste, a second electrode paste, a first insulating liquid, and a second insulating liquid to a substrate, an electrode sheet can be manufactured having an electrode paste layer with a stacked structure of a first electrode paste layer and a second electrode paste layer, and an insulating layer with a stacked structure of a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer.

[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the total thickness of the insulating layer can be increased by forming one of the first and second insulating layers from an insulating liquid with a high solids content. Due to the increased total thickness of the insulating layer, the contact area between the wet insulating layer and the wet electrode paste layer increases, thereby improving the edge slip suppression effect of the electrode paste layer.

[0021] The technical effects achievable in the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those described above, and those skilled in the art can clearly derive and understand other effects not mentioned from the following description. In other words, those skilled in the art can also derive unintended effects from the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing a portion of a coating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0023] Figure 2 It is based on Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the coating apparatus for line II-II'.

[0024] Figure 3 It is based on Figure 1 Cross-sectional view of the coating apparatus for line III-III'.

[0025] Figure 4 It shows along Figure 2Cross-sectional view of the coating apparatus for the IV-IV' line.

[0026] Figure 5 It shows the basis Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the coating apparatus for the V-V' line.

[0027] Figure 6 and Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view illustrating the coating process of a coating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view showing an electrode sheet prepared by coating using a coating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0029] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view showing an electrode manufacturing apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0030] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating an electrode manufacturing method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0031] Preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to this, the terms or words used in this specification and claims should not be construed as limited to their conventional or dictionary meanings, but rather as meanings and concepts consistent with the technical concept of the present disclosure, based on the principle that the inventor may appropriately define the concepts of terms in order to best describe his own invention.

[0032] Therefore, it should be understood that the embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the accompanying drawings are only one of the most preferred embodiments of this disclosure and do not represent all the technical concepts of this disclosure. Therefore, various equivalents and variations that can replace them may exist when this application is filed.

[0033] Furthermore, in describing this disclosure, detailed descriptions of relevant known configurations or functions will be omitted when it is determined that such detailed descriptions may obscure the main points of this disclosure.

[0034] The embodiments of this disclosure are provided to describe the disclosure more completely to those skilled in the art. Therefore, for clarity of explanation, the shapes and dimensions of the components in the drawings may be exaggerated, omitted, or shown schematically. Thus, the dimensions or proportions of each component do not perfectly reflect the actual dimensions or proportions.

[0035] (First Implementation)

[0036] Figure 1 This is a perspective view showing a portion of a coating apparatus 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 2 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the coating apparatus 10 taken from line II-II'. Figure 3 It is along Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the coating apparatus 10 taken from line III-III'. Figure 4 It shows along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the coating apparatus 10 taken from the IV-IV' line. Figure 5 It shows along Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the coating apparatus 10 taken by the V-V' line.

[0037] Reference Figures 1 to 5 The coating apparatus 10 performs a coating process for manufacturing electrodes for secondary batteries by coating a coating liquid onto a substrate 510. The coating liquid may include electrode slurry and insulating liquid. The coating apparatus 10 can discharge electrode slurry and insulating liquid onto the substrate 510, which moves via the coating roller 180. The electrode slurry coated on the substrate 510 forms an electrode slurry layer 540 (on the substrate). Figure 8 (in the middle), and the insulating liquid coated on the substrate 510 can become an insulating layer 550 covering the side of the electrode paste layer 540 (in Figure 8 middle).

[0038] The substrate 510 can be a current collector. The current collector can be a positive electrode current collector. For example, the positive electrode current collector can include stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, titanium, calcined carbon, etc. The current collector can also be a negative electrode current collector. For example, the negative electrode current collector can include copper, stainless steel, nickel, titanium, calcined carbon, etc.

[0039] Electrode pastes may include electrode active materials, conductive materials, binders, and solvents. Electrode active materials may include positive or negative electrode active materials. For example, positive electrode active materials may include lithium metal composite oxides comprising nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), and manganese (Mn). Negative electrode active materials may include at least one of carbon materials and silicon materials. Carbon materials may refer to carbon materials whose main component is carbon atoms. Silicon materials are particles with silicon (Si) as the main metallic component, and may include at least one of silicon (Si) particles and silicon oxide particles.

[0040] Conductive materials may include artificial graphite, natural graphite, carbon black, acetylene black, Ketjen black, Tenca black, thermal cracking carbon black, channel black, carbon fiber, metal fiber, aluminum, tin, bismuth, silicon, antimony, nickel, copper, titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, zinc, molybdenum, tungsten, silver, gold, lanthanum, ruthenium, platinum, iridium, titanium oxide, polyaniline, polythiophene, polyacetylene, polypyrrole, or combinations thereof.

[0041] The binder can enhance the bonding between electrode paste particles, such as electrode active materials and conductive materials, and can also enhance the bonding between the electrode paste particles and the substrate 510. For example, the binder may include polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-trifluorochloroethylene copolymer, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, polytrifluorochloroethylene, vinylidene fluoride-pentafluoropropylene copolymer, propylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, ethylene-trifluorochloroethylene copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, vinylidene fluoride-perfluoromethyl vinyl ether-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), or combinations thereof.

[0042] The insulating fluid may include inorganic particles, phenolic compounds, binders, and solvents. For example, the inorganic particles may include at least one aluminum mineral selected from boehmite, gibbsite, diaspore, alunite, and nepheline. Phenolic compounds can increase the dispersibility of the inorganic particles contained in the insulating fluid. For example, phenolic compounds may include tannic acid, baicalein, luteolin, piperidin, myricetin, quercetin, rutin, catechin, epigallocatechin gallate, astaxanthin, pyrogallol, ellagic acid, amylose, amylopectin, xanthan gum, or combinations thereof.

[0043] The binder can enhance the bonding between insulating liquid particles such as inorganic particles and phenolic compounds, and can also enhance the bonding between the insulating liquid particles and the substrate 510. The binder material of the insulating liquid can be the same as or similar to the binder material of the electrode paste.

[0044] In an exemplary embodiment, the coating apparatus 10 can be configured to simultaneously coat an electrode paste and an insulating liquid onto a substrate 510. The insulating liquid can be coated onto the substrate 510 to cover both sides of the electrode paste layer 540 coated on the substrate 510. By coating the insulating liquid onto the substrate 510 to cover both sides of the electrode paste layer, the phenomenon of slippage, in which the thickness of the electrode paste layer 540 gradually decreases outside the electrode paste layer 540, can be suppressed or prevented, and the thickness deviation of the electrode paste layer 540 coated on the substrate 510 can be reduced.

[0045] In an exemplary embodiment, the coating apparatus 10 may be configured to discharge a first electrode slurry 521 onto a substrate 510 (in... Figure 6 (middle) and second electrode paste 523 (in Figure 6 (In the middle). The first electrode paste 521 becomes the first electrode paste layer 541 coated on the substrate 510 (in Figure 8In the middle), the second electrode paste 523 can become a second electrode paste layer 543 stacked on the first electrode paste layer 541 (in Figure 8 (In the middle). The electrode paste layer 540 may have a multilayer structure in which a first electrode paste layer 541 and a second electrode paste layer 543 are stacked. In an exemplary embodiment, the first electrode paste 521 and the second electrode paste 523 may have different material compositions.

[0046] In an exemplary embodiment, the coating apparatus 10 may be configured to discharge a first insulating liquid 531 onto a substrate 510 (in... Figure 7 (in) and second insulating liquid 533 (in Figure 7 (In the middle). The first insulating liquid 531 becomes the first insulating layer 551 coated on the substrate 510 (in Figure 8 In the middle), the second insulating liquid 533 can become the second insulating layer 553 stacked on the first insulating layer 551 (in Figure 8 (In the middle). The first insulating layer 551 may primarily contact the sides of the first electrode paste layer 541. The second insulating layer 553 may primarily contact the sides of the second electrode paste layer 543. The insulating layer 550 may have a multilayer structure in which the first insulating layer 551 and the second insulating layer 553 are stacked. In an exemplary embodiment, the first insulating liquid 531 and the second insulating liquid 533 may have different material compositions.

[0047] The coating apparatus 10 may include a coating die 101, a first coating pad 150, a second coating pad 160, and a coating roller 180. The first coating pad 150 and the second coating pad 160 may be disposed within the coating die 101, and the coating roller 180 may be disposed outside the coating die 101 to face the die lip of the coating die 101 in a first direction (e.g., the X direction). The coating roller 180 may convey and support a substrate 510. The coating roller 180 may be configured to rotate about a rotation axis parallel to a second direction (e.g., the Y direction) and may support the substrate 510 conveyed along the conveying direction.

[0048] The coating mold 101 can receive the first electrode slurry 521, the second electrode slurry 523, the first insulating liquid 531, and the second insulating liquid 533 from the outside, and can discharge the first electrode slurry 521, the second electrode slurry 523, the first insulating liquid 531, and the second insulating liquid 533 to the substrate 510. The coating mold 101 may include a first electrode slurry outlet 141 configured to discharge the first electrode slurry 521, a second electrode slurry outlet 143 configured to discharge the second electrode slurry 523, a first insulating liquid outlet 145 configured to discharge the first insulating liquid 531, and a second insulating liquid outlet 147 configured to discharge the second insulating liquid 533.

[0049] The first electrode slurry outlet 141 and the second electrode slurry outlet 143 may be arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the substrate 510. The first electrode slurry outlet 141 and the second electrode slurry outlet 143 may have a slit shape extending along the width direction of the substrate 510 parallel to a second direction (e.g., the Y direction). The length of the first electrode slurry outlet 141 along the second direction (e.g., the Y direction) may be greater than the length of the first electrode slurry outlet 141 along a third direction (e.g., the Z direction), and the length of the second electrode slurry outlet 143 along the second direction (e.g., the Y direction) may be greater than the length of the second electrode slurry outlet 143 along a third direction (e.g., the Z direction). The first electrode slurry outlet 141 and the second electrode slurry outlet 143 may be disposed on the die lip of the coating die 101 facing the substrate 510 supported by the coating roller 180.

[0050] The first insulating liquid outlet 145 and the second insulating liquid outlet 147 may be arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the substrate 510. The first insulating liquid outlet 145 is disposed on one side of the first electrode slurry outlet 141, and the second insulating liquid outlet 147 may be disposed on one side of the second electrode slurry outlet 143. The first insulating liquid outlet 145 may be aligned with the first electrode slurry outlet 141 in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction), and the second insulating liquid outlet 147 may be aligned with the second electrode slurry outlet 143 in a second direction (e.g., the Y direction). The first insulating liquid outlet 145 and the second insulating liquid outlet 147 may have the form of a slit extending along the width direction of the substrate 510 parallel to the second direction (e.g., the Y direction). The length of the first insulating liquid outlet 145 along the second direction (e.g., the Y direction) may be greater than the length of the first insulating liquid outlet 145 along the third direction (e.g., the Z direction), and the length of the second insulating liquid outlet 147 along the second direction (e.g., the Y direction) may be greater than the length of the second insulating liquid outlet 147 along the third direction (e.g., the Z direction). The first insulating liquid outlet 145 and the second insulating liquid outlet 147 may be disposed on the die lip of the coating die 101 facing the substrate 510 supported by the coating roller 180.

[0051] The coating mold 101 may include a first mold block 110, a second mold block 120, and a third mold block 130. The first mold block 110, the second mold block 120, and the third mold block 130 may be connected to each other by fastening members such as bolts. The third mold block 130 may be disposed between the first mold block 110 and the second mold block 120. The mold lip of the coating mold 101 may include the mold lip of the first mold block 110 facing the substrate 510, the mold lip of the second mold block 120 facing the substrate 510, and the mold lip of the third mold block 130 facing the substrate 510. A first electrode slurry outlet 141 and a first insulating liquid outlet 145 may be disposed relative to a third third direction (e.g., the Z direction) between the mold lip of the first mold block 110 and the mold lip of the third mold block 130. A second electrode slurry outlet 143 and a second insulating liquid outlet 147 may be disposed relative to a third third direction (e.g., the Z direction) between the mold lip of the second mold block 120 and the mold lip of the third mold block 130.

[0052] The first mold block 110 may include a first manifold 111 for receiving the first electrode slurry 521 and a first internal flow channel 119 through which the first insulating liquid 531 flows. The first manifold 111 may include a space for receiving the first electrode slurry 521 injected through an inlet disposed in the first mold block 110. The first internal flow channel 119 may be configured to deliver the first insulating liquid 531 supplied from the outside to the space between the first mold block 110 and the third mold block 130.

[0053] The second mold block 120 may include a second manifold 121 for receiving the second electrode slurry 523 and a second internal flow channel 129 through which the second insulating liquid 533 flows. The second manifold 121 may include a space for receiving the second electrode slurry 523 injected through an inlet disposed in the second mold block 120. The second internal flow channel 129 may be configured to deliver the second insulating liquid 533 supplied from the outside to the space between the second mold block 120 and the third mold block 130.

[0054] A first coating pad 150 can be inserted into the space between the first mold block 110 and the third mold block 130. For example, the first coating pad 150 can be fastened to the first mold block 110 by a fastening member such as a bolt. The first coating pad 150 may include a first electrode slurry channel 151 communicating with a first electrode slurry outlet 141 and a first insulating liquid channel 153 communicating with a first insulating liquid outlet 145. The first electrode slurry channel 151 may extend between the first manifold 111 and the first electrode slurry outlet 141 and may be configured to deliver the first electrode slurry 521 from the first manifold 111 to the first electrode slurry outlet 141. The first insulating liquid channel 153 may extend between the outlet of the first internal channel 119 of the first mold block 110 and the first insulating liquid outlet 145 and may be configured to deliver the first insulating liquid 531 from the outlet of the first internal channel 119 of the first mold block 110 to the first insulating liquid outlet 145.

[0055] In an exemplary embodiment, the first coating pad 150 may include a first body pad 158 and a first spacer pad 159. The first body pad 158 may include a central body extending along the edge of the first manifold 111 and a pair of side bodies spaced apart such that the first manifold 111 is located therebetween. The first spacer pad 159 may extend between the first manifold 111 and the die lip of the first mold block 110 and may include a first insulating fluid channel 153. The first coating pad 150 may include a plurality of first spacer pads 159 spaced apart along a second direction (e.g., the Y direction). Each first spacer pad 159 may include a first insulating fluid channel 153. A first electrode slurry channel 151 may be disposed between two adjacent first spacer pads 159 of the plurality of first spacer pads 159. The first insulating fluid channel 153 may be disposed on each of the two sides of each first electrode slurry channel 151.

[0056] The second coating pad 160 can be inserted into the space between the second mold block 120 and the third mold block 130. For example, the second coating pad 160 can be fastened to the second mold block 120 by a fastening member such as a bolt. The second coating pad 160 may include a second electrode slurry channel 161 communicating with the second electrode slurry outlet 143 and a second insulating liquid channel 163 communicating with the second insulating liquid outlet 147. The second electrode slurry channel 161 may extend between the second manifold 121 and the second electrode slurry outlet 143 and may be configured to deliver the second electrode slurry 523 from the second manifold 121 to the second electrode slurry outlet 143. The second insulating liquid channel 163 may extend between the outlet of the second internal channel 129 of the second mold block 120 and the second insulating liquid outlet 147 and may be configured to deliver the second insulating liquid 533 from the outlet of the second internal channel 129 of the second mold block 120 to the second insulating liquid outlet 147.

[0057] In an exemplary embodiment, the second coating pad 160 may include a second body pad 168 and a second spacer pad 169. The second body pad 168 may include a central body extending along the edge of the second manifold 121 and a pair of side bodies spaced apart in such a manner that the second manifold 121 is located therebetween. The second spacer pad 169 may extend between the second manifold 121 and the die lip of the second mold block 120, and may include a second insulating fluid channel 163. The second coating pad 160 may include a plurality of second spacer pads 169 spaced apart along a second direction (e.g., the Y direction). Each second spacer pad 169 may include a second insulating fluid channel 163. A second electrode slurry channel 161 may be disposed between two adjacent second spacer pads 169 of the plurality of second spacer pads 169. The second insulating fluid channel 163 may be disposed on each of the two sides of each second electrode slurry channel 161.

[0058] The coating apparatus 10 may include a first electrode slurry supply unit 191, a second electrode slurry supply unit 193, a first insulating liquid supply unit 195, and a second insulating liquid supply unit 197.

[0059] The first electrode slurry supply unit 191 can supply a first electrode slurry 521 having a predetermined material composition and properties to the coating mold 101, and the second electrode slurry supply unit 193 can supply a second electrode slurry 523 having a predetermined material composition and properties to the coating mold 101. The first electrode slurry supply unit 191 may include a supply tank in which the first electrode slurry 521 is stored and a pump installed in a supply line extending between the supply tank and the coating mold 101. The second electrode slurry supply unit 193 may include a supply tank in which the second electrode slurry 523 is stored and a pump installed in a supply line extending between the supply tank and the coating mold 101. The first electrode slurry 521 supplied from the first electrode slurry supply unit 191 can be discharged to the substrate 510 in sequence through the first manifold 111 of the first mold block 110, the first electrode slurry flow channel 151 of the first coating pad 150, and the first electrode slurry discharge port 141 of the coating mold 101. The second electrode paste 523 supplied from the second electrode paste supply unit 193 can be discharged to the substrate 510 in sequence through the second manifold 121 of the second mold block 120, the second electrode paste flow channel 161 of the second coating pad 160, and the second electrode paste discharge port 143 of the coating mold 101.

[0060] The first insulating liquid supply unit 195 can supply a first insulating liquid 531 having a predetermined material composition and properties to the coating mold 101, and the second insulating liquid supply unit 197 can supply a second insulating liquid 533 having a predetermined material composition and properties to the coating mold 101. The first insulating liquid supply unit 195 may include a supply tank containing the first insulating liquid 531 and a pump installed in a supply line extending between the supply tank and the coating mold 101. The second insulating liquid supply unit 197 may include a supply tank containing the second insulating liquid 533 and a pump installed in a supply line extending between the supply tank and the coating mold 101. The first insulating liquid 531 supplied from the first insulating liquid supply unit 195 can be discharged to the substrate 510 sequentially through the first internal flow channel 119 of the first mold block 110, the first insulating liquid flow channel 153 of the first coating pad 150, and the first insulating liquid outlet 145 of the coating mold 101. The second insulating liquid 533 supplied from the second insulating liquid supply unit 197 can be discharged to the substrate 510 in sequence through the second internal flow channel 129 of the second mold block 120, the second insulating liquid flow channel 163 of the second coating pad 160, and the second insulating liquid outlet 147 of the coating mold 101.

[0061] Figure 6 and Figure 7 This is a cross-sectional view illustrating the coating process of a coating apparatus 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Figure 8 This is a cross-sectional view showing an electrode sheet 500 manufactured by coating apparatus 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0062] Reference Figures 1 to 8 The coating apparatus 10 can manufacture the electrode sheet 500 by coating an electrode paste layer 540 and an insulating layer 550 onto a substrate 510. More specifically, the coating apparatus 10 can manufacture the electrode sheet 500 by coating an electrode paste layer 540 having a multilayer structure in which a first electrode paste layer 541 and a second electrode paste layer 543 are stacked, and an insulating layer 550 having a multilayer structure in which a first insulating layer 551 and a second insulating layer 553 are stacked, onto a substrate 510.

[0063] To manufacture the electrode sheet 500, while the substrate 510 is conveyed along the conveying direction TD by the coating roller 180, the coating die 101 of the coating apparatus 10 can be configured to simultaneously discharge a first electrode slurry 521, a second electrode slurry 523, a first insulating liquid 531, and a second insulating liquid 533 onto the substrate 510. The first electrode slurry 521 discharged from the first electrode slurry discharge port 141 of the coating die 101 can form a first electrode slurry layer 541 extending along the substrate 510, and the second electrode slurry 523 discharged from the second electrode slurry discharge port 143 of the coating die 101 can form a second electrode slurry layer 543 extending along the first electrode slurry layer 541. The first insulating liquid 531 discharged from the first insulating liquid discharge port 145 of the coating die 101 can form a first insulating layer 551 extending along the substrate 510, and the second insulating liquid 533 discharged from the second insulating liquid discharge port 147 of the coating die 101 can form a second insulating layer 553 extending along the first insulating layer 551. The first insulating layer 551 extends mainly along the side of the first electrode paste layer 541, thereby suppressing the slippage phenomenon of the first electrode paste layer 541. The second insulating layer 553 extends mainly along the side of the second electrode paste layer 543, thereby suppressing the slippage phenomenon of the second electrode paste layer 543.

[0064] In an exemplary embodiment, the solid content of the first insulating liquid 531 and the solid content of the second insulating liquid 533 may differ from each other. In this disclosure, unless otherwise defined, content is understood to refer to wt.%. In an exemplary embodiment, the viscosity of the first insulating liquid 531 and the viscosity of the second insulating liquid 533 may differ from each other.

[0065] When the solid content of the first insulating liquid 531 and the solid content of the second insulating liquid 533 are too low, there is a concern that the thickness of the insulating layer 550 may be reduced and that the slippage of the electrode paste layer 540 may not be adequately suppressed. When the solid content of the first insulating liquid 531 and the solid content of the second insulating liquid 533 are too high, the viscosity of the first insulating layer 551 and the viscosity of the second insulating layer 553 may become too high, and there is a concern that excessive pressure may be formed in the insulating liquid flow channel of the coating mold 101, potentially damaging the first coating pad 150 and the second coating pad 160, and that the first insulating liquid 531 and the second insulating liquid 533 may not be discharged from the coating mold 101 at a sufficient flow rate. In an exemplary embodiment, the solid content of the first insulating liquid 531 and the solid content of the second insulating liquid 533 may each have a range of 10 wt.% to 30 wt.%. In an exemplary embodiment, the viscosity of the first insulating liquid 531 and the viscosity of the second insulating liquid 533 may each have a range of 900 cps to 5000 cps. The solid content and viscosity of the first insulating liquid 531 can be controlled by the first insulating liquid supply unit 195, and the solid content and viscosity of the second insulating liquid 533 can be controlled by the second insulating liquid supply unit 197.

[0066] In an exemplary embodiment, the solid content of the second insulating liquid 533 can be greater than the solid content of the first insulating liquid 531. In this case, the viscosity of the second insulating liquid 533 can be greater than the viscosity of the first insulating liquid 531. For example, when the solid content of the second insulating liquid 533 is A wt.% and the solid content of the first insulating liquid 531 is B wt.%, the difference between the solid content of the second insulating liquid 533 (A wt.%) and the solid content of the first insulating liquid 531 (B wt.%) can be between 5 wt.%p and 15 wt.%p. For example, the solid content of the second insulating liquid 533 can be between 25 wt.% and 30 wt.%, and the solid content of the first insulating liquid 531 can be between 10 wt.% and 20 wt.%.

[0067] In an exemplary embodiment, the coating mold 101 can be configured to simultaneously discharge a first insulating liquid 531 having a normal level of solids content and a second insulating liquid 533 having a relatively high level of solids content. In this case, the first insulating liquid 531 with relatively high fluidity can be coated onto the substrate 510 such that the insulating layer 550 has the desired width, and the second insulating layer 553 formed by the second insulating liquid 533 with a high level of solids content can be coated onto the substrate 510 to have a large thickness. As the thickness of the second insulating layer 553 increases, the total thickness of the insulating layer 550 can increase. Due to the increase in the total thickness of the insulating layer 550, the contact area where the wet insulating layer 550 meets the wet electrode paste layer 540 increases, thereby improving the edge slip suppression effect of the electrode paste layer 540.

[0068] In an exemplary embodiment, the solid content of the first insulating liquid 531 can be greater than the solid content of the second insulating liquid 533. In this case, the viscosity of the first insulating liquid 531 can be greater than the viscosity of the second insulating liquid 533. For example, when the solid content of the first insulating liquid 531 is C wt.% and the solid content of the second insulating liquid 533 is D wt.%, the difference between the solid content of the first insulating liquid 531 (C wt.%) and the solid content of the second insulating liquid 533 (D wt.%) can be between 5 wt.%p and 10 wt.%p. For example, the solid content of the first insulating liquid 531 can be between 25 wt.% and 30 wt.%, and the solid content of the second insulating liquid 533 can be between 10 wt.% and 20 wt.%.

[0069] In an exemplary embodiment, the coating mold 101 can be configured to simultaneously discharge a second insulating liquid 533 having a normal level of solids content and a first insulating liquid 531 having a relatively high level of solids content. In this case, the first insulating layer 551 formed by the first insulating liquid 531 having a high level of solids content can be coated on the substrate 510 to have a large thickness. As the thickness of the first insulating layer 551 increases, the total thickness of the insulating layer 550 can increase. Due to the increase in the total thickness of the insulating layer 550, the contact area where the wet insulating layer 550 meets the wet electrode paste layer 540 increases, thereby improving the edge slip suppression effect of the electrode paste layer 540.

[0070] (Second Implementation)

[0071] Figure 9 This is a cross-sectional view showing an electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0072] Combination Figures 1 to 8 And refer to Figure 9 The electrode manufacturing apparatus 1000 may include a coating apparatus 10 and a drying apparatus 410. The coating apparatus 10 and the drying apparatus 410 may be arranged sequentially along the conveying direction of the substrate 510.

[0073] The coating apparatus 10 can perform a coating process for forming an electrode slurry layer 540 and an insulating layer 550. The coating apparatus 10 can form an electrode slurry layer 540 in which the first electrode slurry layer 541 and the second electrode slurry layer 543 are stacked, and an insulating layer 550 in which the first insulating layer 551 and the second insulating layer 553 are stacked, by simultaneously discharging a first electrode slurry layer 521, a second electrode slurry layer 523, a first insulating liquid 531 and a second insulating liquid 533 onto the substrate 510 while the substrate 510 is being conveyed by the coating roller 180.

[0074] The drying apparatus 410 can perform a drying process on the electrode slurry layer 540 and the insulating layer 550. The drying apparatus 410 may include a heat source configured to apply heat to the electrode slurry layer 540 and the insulating layer 550. For example, the drying apparatus 410 may be configured to supply hot air to the electrode slurry layer 540 and the insulating layer 550.

[0075] (Third Implementation)

[0076] Figure 10 This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an electrode manufacturing method according to the present disclosure. In the following, reference is made to... Figures 1 to 10 The present invention will describe an electrode manufacturing method according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0077] Reference Figure 10 A mixing process is performed to prepare a first electrode paste 521, a second electrode paste 523, a first insulating liquid 531, and a second insulating liquid 533 (S110). The first electrode paste 521, the second electrode paste 523, the first insulating liquid 531, and the second insulating liquid 533 can each be manufactured with the desired material composition through the mixing process.

[0078] In an exemplary embodiment, the first insulating liquid 531 and the second insulating liquid 533 can be manufactured with different solid contents. In an exemplary embodiment, the solid content of the second insulating liquid 533 can be greater than the solid content of the first insulating liquid 531.

[0079] In an exemplary embodiment, the first electrode paste 521 and the second electrode paste 523 can be manufactured with different solid contents. In an exemplary embodiment, the solid content of the first electrode paste 521 can be greater than the solid content of the second electrode paste 523. In an exemplary embodiment, the binder content of the first electrode paste 521 can be greater than the binder content of the second electrode paste 523. In an exemplary embodiment, the conductive material content of the first electrode paste 521 can be greater than the conductive material content of the second electrode paste 523.

[0080] After preparing the first electrode paste 521, the second electrode paste 523, the first insulating liquid 531, and the second insulating liquid 533, a coating process using the coating apparatus 10 is performed to coat the first electrode paste 521, the second electrode paste 523, the first insulating liquid 531, and the second insulating liquid 533 onto the substrate 510 (S120). The first electrode paste 521 discharged from the coating mold 101 becomes a first electrode paste layer 541 extending along the substrate 510, and the second electrode paste 523 discharged from the coating mold 101 can become a second electrode paste layer 543 extending along the first electrode paste layer 541. Furthermore, the first insulating liquid 531 discharged from the coating mold 101 becomes a first insulating layer 551 extending along the substrate 510, and the second insulating liquid 533 discharged from the coating mold 101 can become a second insulating layer 553 extending along the first insulating layer 551.

[0081] In an exemplary embodiment, the first insulating layer 551 may be formed from a first insulating liquid 531 having a normal level of solids content, and the second insulating layer 553 may be formed from a second insulating liquid 533 having a relatively high level of solids content. In this case, as the thickness of the second insulating layer 553 increases, the total thickness of the insulating layer 550 can increase. Due to the increase in the total thickness of the insulating layer 550, the contact area between the wet insulating layer 550 and the wet electrode paste layer 540 increases, thereby improving the edge slip suppression effect of the electrode paste layer 540.

[0082] After coating the electrode paste layer 540 and the insulating layer 550 onto the substrate 510 by a coating process, a drying process (S130) is performed on the electrode paste layer 540 and the insulating layer 550. During the drying process, heat is applied to the electrode paste layer 540 and the insulating layer 550, and the solvent in the electrode paste layer 540 and the insulating layer 550 can be removed.

[0083] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, by simultaneously discharging a first electrode paste 521, a second electrode paste 523, a first insulating liquid 531, and a second insulating liquid 533 to a substrate 510, an electrode sheet 500 can be manufactured having an electrode paste layer 540 having a stacked structure in which a first electrode paste layer 541 and a second electrode paste layer 543 are stacked, and an insulating layer 550 having a stacked structure in which a first insulating layer 551 and a second insulating layer 553 are stacked.

[0084] In an exemplary embodiment, the electrode manufacturing method may further include a rolling process of pressing the electrode sheet 500 by passing it between a pair of pressing rollers, and a slitting and notching process of cutting the electrode sheet 500 into a predetermined shape and size.

[0085] According to an exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, the total thickness of the insulating layer 550 can be increased by forming one of the first insulating layer 551 and the second insulating layer 553 from an insulating liquid with a high solids content. Due to the increased total thickness of the insulating layer 550, the contact area between the wet insulating layer 550 and the wet electrode paste layer 540 increases, thereby improving the edge slip suppression effect of the electrode paste layer 540.

[0086] As described above, this disclosure has been described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. However, it should be understood that the configurations described in the drawings or the embodiments described in this specification are merely one embodiment of this disclosure and do not represent all the technical concepts of this disclosure. Therefore, various equivalents and modifications may exist at the time of filing this application.

Claims

1. A coating apparatus, the coating apparatus comprising: A coating mold, the coating mold comprising a first electrode slurry outlet for discharging a first electrode slurry, a first insulating liquid outlet for discharging a first insulating liquid, a second electrode slurry outlet for discharging a second electrode slurry, and a second insulating liquid outlet for discharging a second insulating liquid; A first coating pad is inserted into the coating mold and includes a first electrode slurry flow channel communicating with the first electrode slurry outlet and a first insulating liquid flow channel communicating with the first insulating liquid outlet. and A second coating pad is inserted into the coating mold and includes a second electrode slurry flow channel communicating with the second electrode slurry outlet and a second insulating liquid flow channel communicating with the second insulating liquid outlet. The solid content of the first insulating liquid is different from that of the second insulating liquid.

2. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein The coating mold includes: The first mold block includes a first manifold and a first internal flow channel. The first manifold contains the first electrode paste, and the first internal flow channel is connected to the first insulating liquid flow channel of the first coated pad. The second mold block includes a second manifold and a second internal flow channel. The second manifold contains the second electrode paste, and the second internal flow channel communicates with the second insulating liquid flow channel of the second coated pad. A third mold block, located between the first mold block and the second mold block. Wherein, the first coating pad is located between the first mold block and the third mold block, and The second coating pad is located between the second mold block and the third mold block.

3. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: A first insulating liquid supply unit supplies the first insulating liquid to the coating mold; and The second insulating liquid supply unit supplies the second insulating liquid to the coating mold. The first insulating liquid supplied from the first insulating liquid supply unit and the second insulating liquid supplied from the second insulating liquid supply unit have different solid contents.

4. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a coating roller, the coating roller supporting a substrate conveyed along the conveying direction. wherein The first insulating liquid outlet and the second insulating liquid outlet are sequentially arranged along the conveying direction of the substrate, and The solid content of the second insulating liquid is greater than the solid content of the first insulating liquid.

5. The coating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein The viscosity of the second insulating liquid is greater than that of the first insulating liquid.

6. The coating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein The solid content of the first insulating liquid is between 10 wt.% and 20 wt.%. The solid content of the second insulating liquid is between 25 wt.% and 30 wt.%.

7. The coating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein The first electrode slurry outlet and the second electrode slurry outlet are sequentially arranged along the conveying direction of the substrate. The first electrode slurry outlet is located on one side of the first insulating liquid outlet, and The second electrode slurry outlet is located on one side of the second insulating liquid outlet.

8. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a coating roller supporting a substrate conveyed along the conveying direction. wherein, The first insulating liquid outlet and the second insulating liquid outlet are sequentially arranged along the conveying direction of the substrate, and The solid content of the first insulating liquid is greater than the solid content of the second insulating liquid.

9. The coating apparatus of claim 8, wherein, The viscosity of the first insulating liquid is greater than that of the second insulating liquid.

10. The coating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The coating mold is configured to simultaneously discharge the first electrode slurry, the second electrode slurry, the first insulating liquid, and the second insulating liquid onto the substrate.

11. The coating apparatus of claim 10, wherein, The coating apparatus is configured to coat the substrate with a first electrode slurry layer formed by the first electrode slurry, a second electrode slurry layer formed by the second electrode slurry, a first insulating layer formed by the first insulating liquid, and a second insulating layer formed by the second insulating liquid. The second electrode paste layer is stacked on top of the first electrode paste layer, and The second insulating layer is stacked on top of the first insulating layer.

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