Electroplating experimental apparatus

Abstract

This application provides an electroplating experimental apparatus, comprising: an electroplating tank; a liquid storage tank assembly, including a liquid storage tank and a heating element and a temperature sensor respectively installed in the liquid storage tank; an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, respectively connected between the electroplating tank and the liquid storage tank; a pump body connected to the inlet pipe; an anode plate disposed in the electroplating tank; a fixing assembly placed in the electroplating tank, the fixing assembly being used for horizontal fixing and tensioning of the film material; and a conductive assembly mounted on the fixing assembly, the conductive assembly being used for connecting the film material; wherein, the anode plate is used to connect to the positive terminal of a power supply, and the conductive assembly is used to connect to the negative terminal of a power supply. The electroplating experimental apparatus provided by this application can reduce the cost of composite current collector electroplating experiments and improve experimental efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of electroplating process experimental technology, and in particular to an electroplating experimental apparatus. Background Technology

[0002] Composite current collectors have the advantages of low weight, high safety and low cost, which are suitable for the development needs of the next generation of high-safety and high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries.

[0003] The specialized production equipment for composite current collectors is expensive, and direct purchase poses a certain cost risk to the company. Therefore, preliminary experiments are necessary before evaluation. However, there are currently no laboratory-grade electroplating experimental devices for composite current collectors. Using production line electroplating equipment for electroplating experiments on composite current collectors would be costly and inefficient. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This application provides an electroplating experimental apparatus that can reduce the cost of composite current collector electroplating experiments and improve experimental efficiency.

[0005] This application provides an electroplating experimental apparatus, including:

[0006] Electroplating tank;

[0007] A liquid storage tank assembly, including a liquid storage tank and a heating element and a temperature sensor respectively installed in the liquid storage tank;

[0008] The inlet pipe and the outlet pipe are connected between the electroplating tank and the storage tank, respectively;

[0009] The pump body is connected to the inlet pipe;

[0010] Anode plates are installed inside the electroplating tank;

[0011] The fixing component is placed in the electroplating tank and is used to fix the film material horizontally and tension it.

[0012] The conductive component is mounted on the fixed component and is used to connect the membrane material.

[0013] The anode plate is used to connect to the positive terminal of the power supply, and the conductive component is used to connect to the negative terminal of the power supply.

[0014] In one embodiment, the fixing assembly includes a support frame, two winding shafts, a pressure plate, and a tensioning plate;

[0015] Two winding shafts are fixed to both ends of the membrane material, and flat sections are provided at both ends of the winding shafts, which are placed on the support frame.

[0016] The pressure plate is installed on the support frame, and the end of the pressure plate abuts against the flat part;

[0017] The tension plate is installed on the pressure plate, and the opposite sides of the tension plate push against the flat parts of the two winding shafts respectively.

[0018] In one embodiment, the winding shaft includes two detachably connected clamps that clamp the ends of the film material, and the film material is wound around the winding shaft.

[0019] In one embodiment, the pressure plate is slidably connected to the support frame, the sliding direction of the pressure plate is parallel to the height direction of the support frame, and the pressure plate and the support frame are locked together by a locking member; and / or,

[0020] The tensioning plate and the pressure plate are slidably connected and locked together by a locking device. The tensioning plate has a tensioning part that abuts against the winding shaft, and the width of the tensioning part gradually increases along the extension direction of the tensioning plate.

[0021] In one embodiment, the conductive component includes an electrical connector, a guide rod, an upper clamping plate, a lower clamping plate, and an elastic element;

[0022] The electrical connector is installed on the fixed assembly. The two ends of the guide rod are respectively connected to the electrical connector and the lower clamping plate. The upper clamping plate is slidably connected to the guide rod. The two ends of the elastic element are respectively connected to the electrical connector and the upper clamping plate.

[0023] The edges of the membrane material are held between the upper and lower clamping plates.

[0024] In one embodiment, a support base is provided on the fixing component, and the electrical connector is fixed to the support base by fasteners;

[0025] The electrical connector has a guide groove for fasteners to pass through, and the conductive component can move closer to or further away from the membrane material as it moves along the extension direction of the guide groove.

[0026] In one embodiment, the upper or lower clamping plate is a conductive element, and the anode plate is located on the side of the film material facing the conductive element; or,

[0027] Both the upper and lower clamping plates are conductive components, and anode plates are respectively provided on opposite sides of the membrane material.

[0028] In one embodiment, the conductive component further includes a cover over the conductive member, with the conductive member exposed from the cover and in conductive contact with the membrane material on the side facing the membrane material; and / or,

[0029] A handle is provided on the side of the upper clamp facing the electrical connector.

[0030] In one embodiment, the electroplating experimental apparatus further includes a diverter pipe, one end of which is located downstream of the pump body and connected to the liquid inlet pipe, and the other end of which is connected to the liquid storage tank.

[0031] In one embodiment, the liquid inlet pipeline includes a liquid inlet section extending into the electroplating tank, with one end of the liquid inlet section away from the liquid storage tank sealed off, and a plurality of equally spaced spray holes provided on the side wall of the liquid inlet section.

[0032] The electroplating experimental apparatus provided in this application includes an electroplating tank, a storage tank assembly, an inlet pipe, a drain pipe, a pump body, an anode plate, a fixing assembly, and a conductive assembly. The inlet and drain pipes are respectively connected between the electroplating tank and the storage tank of the storage tank assembly. The pump body drives the electrolyte to circulate between the electroplating tank and the storage tank. The temperature of the electrolyte during the experiment can be precisely controlled by the heating element and temperature sensor in the storage tank assembly. The fixing assembly horizontally fixes and tensions the membrane material within the electroplating tank. The conductive assembly is connected to the membrane material on the fixing assembly. Connecting the positive terminal of the power supply to the anode plate and the negative terminal to the conductive assembly allows for the electroplating of a metal layer onto the membrane material. When using this electroplating experimental apparatus to perform electroplating experiments on composite current collectors, the electroplating of the membrane material is completed after setting the electroplating current value and electroplating time on the power supply, thus producing a sample of the composite current collector. The experiment uses less electrolyte, consumes fewer chemicals, is more convenient and faster to prepare, and reduces experimental costs. The experimental parameters are stable, controllable, precise, and easy to operate, which improves the accuracy and efficiency of the experiment. Attached Figure Description

[0033] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments or exemplary embodiments of this application, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or exemplary embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0034] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an electroplating experimental apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0035] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A partial structural schematic diagram of the electroplating experimental apparatus shown.

[0036] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Exploded view;

[0037] Figure 4 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the connection between the support frame, the winding shaft, and the film material in the electroplating experimental apparatus shown.

[0038] Figure 5 for Figure 4 Exploded view;

[0039] Figure 6 for Figure 1A schematic diagram showing the connection between the support frame, winding shaft, pressure plate, and film material in the electroplating experimental apparatus shown.

[0040] Figure 7 for Figure 6 Exploded view;

[0041] Figure 8 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the connection between the support frame, winding shaft, pressure plate, tension plate, and film material in the electroplating experimental apparatus shown.

[0042] Figure 9 for Figure 8 Exploded view;

[0043] Figure 10 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram showing the connection between the support frame, winding shaft, pressure plate, tension plate, conductive components, and film material in the electroplating experimental apparatus shown.

[0044] Figure 11 for Figure 10 Exploded view;

[0045] Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the conductive component provided in the embodiments of this application;

[0046] Figure 13 for Figure 12 Exploded view;

[0047] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the anode plate in another electroplating experimental apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0048] Figure 15 A schematic diagram showing the connection between the fixing component, the conductive component, and the film material in another electroplating experimental apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0049] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram showing the connection between the fixed component, the anode plate, and the conductive component in another electroplating experimental apparatus provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0050] Figure label:

[0051] 100. Electroplating tank; 110. First drain pipe;

[0052] 200. Liquid storage tank assembly; 210. Liquid storage tank; 211. Second drain pipe; 220. Heating element; 230. Temperature sensor;

[0053] 310. Inlet pipe; 320. Drain pipe; 330. Pump body; 340. Diverter pipe;

[0054] 400. Anode plate;

[0055] 500, Fixing component; 510, Support frame; 511, First slide groove; 520, Winding shaft; 521, Flat part; 530, Pressure plate; 531, Second slide groove; 532, Support base; 540, Tensioning plate; 541, Tensioning part;

[0056] 600. Conductive component; 610. Electrical connector; 611. Guide groove; 620. Guide rod; 630. Upper clamping plate; 640. Lower clamping plate; 650. Elastic element; 660. Cover; 670. Handle;

[0057] 700. Support frame;

[0058] 800. Membrane material. Detailed Implementation

[0059] To make the above-mentioned objectives, features, and advantages of this application more apparent and understandable, the specific embodiments of this application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of this application. However, this application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein, and those skilled in the art can make similar modifications without departing from the spirit of this application. Therefore, this application is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0060] In the description of this application, it should be understood that if terms such as "center", "longitudinal", "lateral", "length", "width", "thickness", "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", "clockwise", "counterclockwise", "axial", "radial", "circumferential" appear, these terms indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0061] Furthermore, where the terms "first" and "second" appear, these terms are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description of this application, where the term "multiple" appears, "multiple" means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0062] It should be noted that if an element is referred to as being "fixed to" or "set on" another element, it can be directly on the other element or there may be an intervening element. If an element is considered to be "connected to" another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intervening element. If so, the terms "vertical," "horizontal," "upper," "lower," "left," "right," and similar expressions used in this application are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only possible implementation.

[0063] Currently, electroplating experiments on composite current collectors typically utilize production line electroplating equipment or simple mechanically stirred experimental tanks. These experiments require several to tens of cubic meters of experimental liquid. Analyzing problems or re-filling the solution generates substantial waste liquid and necessitates the re-injection of large quantities of chemicals. This significantly impacts the timeliness of problem-solving on the production line, the cost of troubleshooting, and the workload of re-preparing solutions. Existing electroplating equipment cannot achieve horizontal electroplating of the film material, nor can it achieve uniform electrolyte circulation and precise temperature control—crucial process parameters. Therefore, electroplating experiments on composite current collectors are costly and inefficient.

[0064] To address the aforementioned problems, this application provides an electroplating experimental apparatus, including an electroplating tank, a storage tank assembly, an inlet pipe, a drain pipe, a pump body, an anode plate, a fixing assembly, and a conductive assembly. The inlet and drain pipes are respectively connected between the electroplating tank and the storage tank of the storage tank assembly. The pump body drives the electrolyte to circulate between the electroplating tank and the storage tank. The temperature of the electrolyte during the experiment can be precisely controlled by the heating element and temperature sensor in the storage tank assembly. The fixing assembly horizontally fixes and tensions the membrane material within the electroplating tank. The conductive assembly is connected to the membrane material on the fixing assembly. By connecting the positive terminal of the power supply to the anode plate and the negative terminal to the conductive assembly, a metal layer can be electroplated onto the membrane material. When using this electroplating experimental apparatus to conduct electroplating experiments on composite current collectors, the electroplating of the membrane material is completed after setting the electroplating current value and electroplating time on the power supply, thus producing a sample of the composite current collector. The experiment uses less electrolyte, consumes fewer chemicals, is more convenient and faster to prepare, and reduces experimental costs. The experimental parameters are stable, controllable, precise, and easy to operate, which improves the accuracy and efficiency of the experiment.

[0065] The specific structure of the electroplating experimental apparatus provided in the embodiments of this application will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0066] Reference Figures 1 to 3As shown in the illustration, this application provides an electroplating experimental apparatus, including an electroplating tank 100, a liquid storage tank assembly 200, an inlet pipe 310, a drain pipe 320, a pump body 330, an anode plate 400, a fixing assembly 500, and a conductive assembly 600. The liquid storage tank assembly 200 includes a liquid storage tank 210 and a heating element 220 and a temperature sensor 230 respectively installed within the liquid storage tank 210. The inlet pipe 310 and the drain pipe 320 are respectively connected between the electroplating tank 100 and the liquid storage tank 210. The pump body 330 is connected to the inlet pipe 310.

[0067] The membrane material 800 is electroplated in the electroplating tank 100. For example, the electroplating tank 100 can be a box structure formed by welding a 10mm thick UPVC (Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride) sheet. The inlet pipe 310 and outlet pipe 320 can be either DN20 UPVC round pipes or 25mm inner diameter fiberglass hoses, fixed with UPVC glue or clamps. The storage tank 210 can be a box structure formed by welding a 10mm thick UPVC sheet, and can hold 30L~50L of electrolyte. A gear pump 330 can be used as the pump body; this gear pump can be a stainless steel gear pump with a flow rate of 0~40L / min, a power of 500W, and a head of 1 meter.

[0068] like Figure 1 As shown, the electroplating experimental apparatus also includes a support frame 700, which can be formed by welding a 30mm×30mm cross-section stainless steel square tube with a wall thickness of 1.5mm. The liquid storage tank 210 and the pump body 330 can be fixed to the support frame 700 by means of a flange or M8 screws.

[0069] The electrolyte circulation path of the electroplating experimental apparatus is as follows: Pump 330 transports the electrolyte from storage tank 210 to electroplating tank 100 through inlet pipe 310. When the electrolyte in electroplating tank 100 reaches a certain height, it flows back to storage tank 210 through drain pipe 320, thus achieving electrolyte circulation between electroplating tank 100 and storage tank 210. In one possible implementation, electroplating tank 100 is equipped with a first drain pipe 110, and storage tank 210 is equipped with a second drain pipe 211. Valves are installed on the first drain pipe 110 and the second drain pipe 211 respectively. After the experiment, opening the valves on the first drain pipe 110 and the second drain pipe 211 drains the electrolyte in the electroplating experimental apparatus. Compared with electroplating equipment on a production line, the electroplating experimental apparatus requires less electrolyte, consumes less chemicals, and is more convenient and faster to prepare.

[0070] For example, the electroplating tank 100 can be equipped with four inlet and outlet ports (two outlet ports, one inlet port, and one vent port), and both inlet and outlet ports can be DN20 UPVC round pipes. The storage tank 210 is equipped with four connection ports for connecting pipelines, each connection port being a DN20 UPVC round pipe. The valves on the pipelines can be DN20 UVPC ball valves.

[0071] The heating element 220 can be a titanium heating tube with a power of 1500W. A probe-type PT100 can be used as the temperature sensor 230, with a temperature measurement range of -50℃ to +250℃. The temperature sensor 230 and the heating element 220 can be connected to a control unit (such as a PLC). The heating element 220 heats the electrolyte in the storage tank 210, and the temperature sensor 230 monitors the real-time temperature of the electrolyte in the storage tank 210. When the temperature reaches the preset value, the control unit controls the heating element 220 to stop heating, thus achieving precise control of the electrolyte temperature parameters during the experiment.

[0072] An anode plate 400 is disposed within an electroplating tank 100. A fixing assembly 500 is placed within the electroplating tank 100 and is used for horizontal fixing and tensioning of the film material 800. A conductive assembly 600 is mounted on the fixing assembly 500 and is used to connect the film material 800. The anode plate 400 is used to connect to the positive terminal of the power supply, and the conductive assembly 600 is used to connect to the negative terminal of the power supply.

[0073] For example, the anode plate 400 can be a DSA-coated iridium-ruthenium titanium anode plate. Multiple anode plates 400 can be arranged side-by-side, resulting in a more uniform current distribution compared to using a single, large-area anode plate 400. Understandably, during the experiment, the anode plate 400 is located below the electrolyte surface in the electroplating tank 100. The anode plate 400 can be connected to conductive components such as titanium sheet metal so that current can be conducted from the conductive components to the anode plate 400 below the electrolyte surface. By horizontally fixing and tensioning the film material 800 using the fixing assembly 500, horizontal electroplating of the film material 800 can be achieved, ensuring the quality of the coating on the film material 800.

[0074] The conductive component 600 is electrically connected to the side of the film material 800 facing the anode plate 400, thereby electroplating a metal layer on the side of the film material 800 facing the anode plate 400. There can be two conductive components 600, each connected to one end of the film material 800.

[0075] It is worth mentioning that the electroplating experimental apparatus is used for thickening the metal layer of composite current collectors. Taking the preparation of a PET composite copper foil thickened sample as an example, after the film material 800 (PET) is sputtered with a seed copper layer by PVD, it is horizontally tensioned and fixed by the fixing component 500. The film material 800 and the fixing component 500 are placed together in the electroplating tank 100, which circulates an electrolyte with the required temperature and flow rate. The conductive component 600 is connected to the film material 800, and the anode plate 400 is connected to the positive terminal of the (DC) power supply, while the conductive component 600 is connected to the negative terminal of the (DC) power supply. After setting the electroplating current value and electroplating time on the power supply, the horizontal electroplating thickening of the PET composite film is completed, thus producing a PET composite copper foil thickened sample. It should be noted that the film material 800 electroplated by the electroplating experimental apparatus is not limited to PET film, but can also be PP or PI, etc.; the thickened metal layer is not limited to copper, but can also be nickel or zinc, etc., and is not limited to any particular material.

[0076] The electroplating experimental apparatus provided in this embodiment can quickly optimize electroplating formulas, current parameters, and pretreatment processes to obtain stable composite current collector samples. This provides data support and technical assurance for subsequent large-scale production line scale-up, equipment selection, and product certification, significantly reducing enterprise R&D risks and production costs, and enhancing the enterprise's technological reserves and core competitiveness in the field of composite current collectors. The electroplating experimental apparatus provided in this embodiment is of great help in problem analysis, troubleshooting, and verification during the R&D process and workshop production of composite current collectors, achieving stable, controllable, precise, and easy-to-operate process parameters, thereby improving R&D accuracy and efficiency.

[0077] In one possible implementation, the liquid inlet pipe 310 includes a liquid inlet section extending into the electroplating tank 100, with one end of the liquid inlet section away from the liquid storage tank 210 sealed off, and a plurality of equally spaced spray holes provided on the side wall of the liquid inlet section.

[0078] For example, all the spray holes on the liquid inlet pipe 310 can be arranged at intervals along the extension direction of the liquid inlet pipe 310. Each spray hole can be a circular hole with a diameter of 2 mm, the center distance between two adjacent spray holes can be 20 mm, and the number of spray holes can be 20.

[0079] The above settings can ensure that the electrolyte can circulate relatively evenly in the electroplating tank 100, thus guaranteeing the uniformity of the electroplating of the film material 800.

[0080] In one embodiment, such as Figures 2 to 9 As shown, the fixing assembly 500 includes a support frame 510, two winding shafts 520, a pressure plate 530, and a tensioning plate 540. The two winding shafts 520 are respectively fixed to both ends of the membrane material 800, and each end of the winding shaft 520 is provided with a flat position 521. The flat position 521 is placed on the support frame 510.

[0081] Among them, the two winding shafts 520 are arranged in parallel to each other, and the flat part 521 is the flat structure at the end of the winding shaft 520. The flat part 521 extends beyond the edge of the film material 800, and a step is formed between the flat part 521 and the main body of the winding shaft 520.

[0082] For example, the support frame 510 includes two support plates and a support structure connecting the two support plates. The support plates can be 10mm thick UPVC non-standard machined parts, and the support structure can include four DN20 UPVC round pipes. The support plates and the support structure can be fixed by plastic welding or M4 screws. The two flat portions 521 of the winding shaft 520 are respectively placed on the two support plates of the support frame 510, and the two support plates abut against the two stepped portions of the winding shaft 520. With the above arrangement, the winding shaft 520 can not rotate on the support frame 510 and cannot move relative to the support frame 510 in the direction indicated by the Y-axis.

[0083] A pressure plate 530 is mounted on the support frame 510, with its end abutting against the flat portion 521. There are two pressure plates 530, each mounted on one of the two support plates of the support frame 510, and each abutting against the two flat portions 521 of the winding shaft 520. In other words, the flat portions 521 of the winding shaft 520 are clamped between the pressure plate 530 and the support frame 510, thus restricting the movement of the winding shaft 520 relative to the support frame 510 along the Z-axis.

[0084] Tensioner plates 540 are mounted on pressure plates 530, with their opposite sides abutting against the flat portions 521 of the two winding shafts 520. Two tensioner plates 540 are used, each mounted on one of the two pressure plates 530. By using the tensioner plates 540 to abut against the flat portions 521 of the two winding shafts 520, the movement of the winding shafts 520 relative to the support frame 510 along the X-axis direction is restricted. The tensioner plates 540 can be made of 10mm thick UPVC sheet.

[0085] With the above settings, the membrane 800 is horizontally tensioned and fixed by the fixing component 500, so that the membrane 800 is in a tensioned state and is fixed in place in all directions indicated by the X, Y and Z axes. The conductive component 600 introduces current from the power supply to the membrane 800 below the electrolyte surface, ensuring that the electroplating experimental device can reliably electroplat a metal layer on the membrane 800.

[0086] In one specific embodiment, the winding shaft 520 includes two detachably connected clamping members that clamp the ends of the film material 800, and the film material 800 is wound around the winding shaft 520.

[0087] The clamping component is a semi-cylindrical PTFE machined part. One of the clamping components of the winding shaft 520 can be provided with a positioning pin, and the other clamping component can be provided with an insertion hole. The diameter of the positioning pin and the insertion hole can be 8mm. After the positioning pin extends into the insertion hole, the two clamping components can be fixed.

[0088] In the electroplating experimental setup, a PVD sputtered film 800 (690mm x 300mm) with a seed metal layer approximately 50nm thick can be used. The two ends of the film 800 are fixed by a winding shaft 520. Specifically, the film 800 is initially clamped by two grippers on the winding shaft 520. However, the film 800 is too thin (e.g., a PET film with a thickness of only 4.5µm), and the two grippers cannot completely clamp it. After the two grippers on the winding shaft 520 initially clamp the film 800, the winding shaft 520 is rotated so that the film 800 is wound around it 2-3 times, securing it to the winding shaft 520 through the wrapping property. Once the winding shafts 520 at both ends of the film 800 are fixed to the support frame 510, the film 800 is tensioned and fixed on the fixing assembly 500.

[0089] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, the pressure plate 530 is slidably connected to the support frame 510. The sliding direction of the pressure plate 530 is parallel to the height direction of the support frame 510. The pressure plate 530 and the support frame 510 are locked together by a locking member.

[0090] In this design, two first sliding grooves 511 are installed on opposite sides of the two support plates of the support frame 510. The two first sliding grooves 511 on each support plate are arranged parallel to each other. Both ends of the pressure plate 530 extend into the two first sliding grooves 511 and are slidably connected to the corresponding first sliding grooves 511. The first sliding grooves 511 can be stainless steel parts and can be fixed to the support plates with M4 screws. Each sliding groove extends along the height direction of the support frame 510 (i.e., the direction indicated by the Z-axis), allowing the pressure plate 530 to slide relative to the support frame 510 along the height direction of the support frame 510. Figure 6 As shown, the locking member passes through the first slide groove 511 and abuts against the pressure plate 530, thereby fixing the pressure plate 530 to the support frame 510. The locking member can be an M4 wing screw.

[0091] In this embodiment, the sliding pressure plate 530 can abut against the flat part 521 of the winding shaft 520 or disengage from the winding shaft 520. When the pressure plate 530 abuts against the flat part 521, the position of the pressure plate 530 is fixed by the locking member to ensure reliable fixation of the winding shaft 520 and the film material 800 on the winding shaft 520.

[0092] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the tension plate 540 is slidably connected to the pressure plate 530, and the tension plate 540 and the pressure plate 530 are locked together by a locking member. The tension plate 540 has a tensioning portion 541 that abuts against the winding shaft 520, and the width of the tensioning portion 541 gradually increases along the extending direction of the tension plate 540.

[0093] Schematic illustration: Two second sliding grooves 531 are respectively provided on opposite sides of the two pressure plates 530. The two second sliding grooves 531 extend along the height direction of the support frame 510. Both ends of the tension plate 540 extend into the two second sliding grooves 531 and are slidably connected to them. A locking element passes through the second sliding groove 531 and abuts against the tension plate 540, thus fixing the position of the tension plate 540. The second sliding groove 531 can be a stainless steel component and can be fixed to the pressure plate 530 with M4 screws.

[0094] like Figure 8 and Figure 9 As shown, the bottom portion of the tensioning plate 540 is the tensioning part 541. The tensioning part 541 can be inverted V-shape, and the angle between the side wall of the tensioning part 541 and the direction indicated by the X-axis can be 65°. During the assembly of the electroplating experimental apparatus, as the tensioning plate 540 gradually moves downward, the two side walls of the tensioning part 541 push against the flat parts 521 of the two winding shafts 520, making the film material 800 more tightly tensioned in both directions of the X-axis. After the tensioning plate 540 tensions the film material 800 on the winding shafts 520, the tensioning plate 540 is fixed to the pressure plate 530 by a locking device, which can be an M4 wing screw. The above configuration can reliably tension the film material 800.

[0095] In one embodiment, such as Figures 10 to 13 As shown, the conductive component 600 includes an electrical connector 610, a guide rod 620, an upper clamping plate 630, a lower clamping plate 640, and an elastic member 650. The electrical connector 610 is mounted on the fixed component 500. The two ends of the guide rod 620 are respectively connected to the electrical connector 610 and the lower clamping plate 640. The upper clamping plate 630 is slidably connected to the guide rod 620. The two ends of the elastic member 650 are respectively connected to the electrical connector 610 and the upper clamping plate 630.

[0096] For example, there are two conductive components 600, each located on one side of a opposite pressure plate 530. Figure 12As shown, the electrical connector 610 can be a strip-shaped structure. There can be two guide rods 620 arranged parallel to each other, each extending along the height of the support frame 510. Both ends of each guide rod 620 are connected to the electrical connector 610 and the lower clamping plate 640, respectively. The guide rods 620 and the electrical connector 610 can be stainless steel parts, and both ends of the guide rod 620 can be fixed to the electrical connector 610 and the lower clamping plate 640 respectively using M4 screws.

[0097] The upper clamping plate 630 has a through hole with a diameter of 10mm. The guide rod 620 passes through the through hole, and the upper clamping plate 630 can slide relative to the guide rod 620 along the extension direction of the guide rod 620. The elastic element 650 can be a spring with a wire diameter of 1mm. The elastic element 650 can be sleeved on the guide rod 620. When the elastic element 650 is under pressure, the elastic force of the elastic element 650 can drive the upper clamping plate 630 to move away from the electrical connector 610, so that the upper clamping plate 630 and the lower clamping plate 640 fit tightly together.

[0098] The upper clamping plate 630 and / or the lower clamping plate 640 are conductive components. When the electrical connector 610 is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply, the current is transmitted to the membrane material 800 in sequence through the electrical connector 610, the guide rod 620, and the upper clamping plate 630 and / or the lower clamping plate 640.

[0099] The edge of the film material 800 is clamped between the upper clamping plate 630 and the lower clamping plate 640. During the assembly of the electroplating experimental apparatus, after the film material 800 is installed on the fixing component 500, the conductive component 600 is installed on the fixing component 500. The upper clamping plate 630 and the lower clamping plate 640 of the fixing component 500 are located on opposite sides of the film material 800, and the edge of the film material 800 is clamped by the upper clamping plate 630 and the lower clamping plate 640.

[0100] In this embodiment, the conductive component 600 can reliably connect to the film material 800. When the electroplating experimental device is in use, the anode plate 400 is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply, and the electrical connector 610 of the conductive component 600 is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply to reliably electroplat the film material 800.

[0101] In a specific embodiment, such as Figure 10 and Figure 11 As shown, a support base 532 is provided on the fixing component 500, and the electrical connector 610 is fixed to the support base 532 by fasteners.

[0102] Specifically, the two pressure plates 530 of the fixing component 500 each have a support base 532 on their opposite sides. This support base 532 can be made of UPVC. Fasteners pass through the electrical connector 610 and are locked onto the support base 532, thereby fixing the electrical connector 610 to the support base 532. Two support bases 532 can be provided on the pressure plate 530, and the electrical connector 610 is fixed to the two support bases 532 respectively by two fasteners. These fasteners can be wing screws. The support bases 532 on the pressure plate 530 provide mounting support for the conductive component 600.

[0103] The electrical connector 610 has a guide groove 611 for fasteners to pass through, and the conductive component 600 can move closer to or further away from the membrane material 800 when it moves along the extension direction of the guide groove 611.

[0104] Schematic, the extension direction of the guide groove 611 is parallel to the axial direction of the winding shaft 520. After the electrical connector 610 of the conductive component 600 is placed on the support base 532, a fastener is used to pass through the guide groove 611 and connect to the support base 532. The conductive component 600 is moved along the extension direction of the guide groove 611 so that the edge of the film 800 extends between the upper clamping plate 630 and the lower clamping plate 640. The electrical connector 610 is then locked to the support base 532 using fasteners.

[0105] With the above settings, the conductive component 600 will not interfere with the membrane material 800 during the assembly process, and the position of the conductive component 600 can be adjusted so that the conductive component 600 can reliably hold the membrane material 800.

[0106] In one possible implementation, the upper clamping plate 630 or the lower clamping plate 640 is a conductive element, and the anode plate 400 is located on the side of the film material 800 facing the conductive element.

[0107] For example, such as Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figures 10 to 13 As shown, the lower clamping plate 640 is a conductive component and can be made of stainless steel. A 10mm thick PVC sheet can be used as the upper clamping plate 630. The anode plate 400 is located below the fixing assembly 500 and fixed to the electroplating tank 100. A conductive component, such as titanium sheet metal, is connected to the side of the anode plate 400. The end of the conductive component away from the anode plate 400 extends out of the electroplating tank 100 so that current can be conducted from the conductive component to the anode plate 400 below the electrolyte. The anode plate 400 and the conductive component can be locked together with M4 screws. A 10mm circular hole can be opened on the anode plate 400, and a 9.5mm diameter cylinder can be placed inside the electroplating tank 100. The cylinder, inserted into the corresponding circular hole, can achieve positioning and fixation between the anode plate 400 and the electroplating tank 100. After the conductive component and the conductive assembly 600 are connected to the positive and negative terminals of the power supply respectively, a metal layer can be electroplated on the bottom surface of the film material 800.

[0108] Or, such as Figure 1 and Figures 14 to 16 As shown, the upper clamping plate 630 can be a conductive component. The conductive component can be a bracket, with part of the bracket extending out of the electroplating tank 100. The anode plate 400 can be mounted on the fixing assembly 500 via the bracket and is located above the film material 800. After the conductive component and the conductive assembly 600 are connected to the positive and negative terminals of the power supply respectively, a metal layer can be electroplated on the top surface of the film material 800.

[0109] In one possible implementation, when one of the upper clamping plate 630 and the lower clamping plate 640 is a conductive element, Shore 60A fluororubber can be attached to the other of the upper clamping plate 630 and the lower clamping plate 640 to ensure that the upper clamping plate 630 and the lower clamping plate 640 firmly clamp the membrane material 800 and enable the current to be stably guided to the membrane material 800.

[0110] With the above settings, single-sided electroplating of the film material 800 can be achieved.

[0111] In another possible implementation, both the upper clamping plate 630 and the lower clamping plate 640 are conductive components, and anode plates 400 are respectively provided on opposite sides of the membrane material 800.

[0112] Specifically, the upper clamping plate 630 and the lower clamping plate 640 are made of conductive materials. Anode plates 400 are installed inside the electroplating tank 100 and on the fixing assembly 500, respectively, with the anode plates 400 installed in the electroplating tank 100 and on the fixing assembly 500 located on opposite sides of the film material 800. When the anode plates 400 and the conductive assembly 600 are connected to the positive and negative terminals of a power supply, double-sided electroplating of the film material 800 can be achieved.

[0113] In one possible implementation, such as Figures 10-13 As shown, the conductive component 600 also includes a cover 660 covering the conductive member, with the side of the conductive member facing the membrane 800 exposed from the cover 660 and in conductive contact with the membrane 800.

[0114] For example Figures 10-13As shown, the lower clamping plate 640 is a conductive element, and the cover 660 is fitted over the lower clamping plate 640. The cover 660 can be made of insulating material such as PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), and the cover 660 and the conductive element can be fixed by fasteners, snap-fit ​​connections, or adhesives, etc., without being limited to a single method. When the cover 660 is fitted over the lower clamping plate 640, the side of the lower clamping plate 640 facing the upper clamping plate 630 protrudes from the cover 660 and makes conductive contact with the membrane material 800. Alternatively, when the upper clamping plate 630 is a conductive element, the cover 660 is fitted over the upper clamping plate 630, and the side of the upper clamping plate 630 facing the lower clamping plate 640 protrudes from the cover 660 and makes conductive contact with the membrane material 800.

[0115] With the above settings, the cover 660 can prevent the conductive parts from being electroplated, ensuring the reliable use of the conductive component 600 while also ensuring the accuracy of the experiment.

[0116] like Figure 3 and Figures 10-13 As shown, a handle 670 is provided on the side of the upper clamping plate 630 facing the electrical connector 610. The handle can be fixed to the upper clamping plate 630 by fasteners. The operator can hold the handle 670 and pull the upper clamping plate 630, so that the edge of the membrane material 800 extends between the upper clamping plate 630 and the lower clamping plate 640, and control the conductive component 600 to release the membrane material 800.

[0117] In one embodiment, such as Figure 1 As shown, the electroplating experimental apparatus also includes a diversion pipe 340. One end of the diversion pipe 340 is located downstream of the pump body 330 and is connected to the liquid inlet pipe 310. The other end of the diversion pipe 340 is connected to the liquid storage tank 210.

[0118] As an illustration, a switch valve is installed on the diversion pipe 340. When the flow rate of electrolyte pumped by the pump body 330 is too large, the operator can open the switch valve on the diversion pipe 340, so that a portion of the electrolyte in the inlet pipe 310 can be diverted back into the storage tank 210 through the diversion pipe 340, thus regulating the flow rate of the electrolyte.

[0119] In summary, after the membrane material 800 undergoes PVD sputtering of a seed metal layer, such as sputtering a seed copper layer onto a PET film, it is horizontally tensioned and fixed by the fixing component 500. Then, the conductive component 600 is installed, and finally, the membrane material 800 is placed into the electroplating tank 100. The electroplating tank 100 contains an electrolyte with circulating temperature and flow rate that meet the requirements. The anode plate 400 is connected to the positive terminal of the power supply, and the conductive component 600 is connected to the negative terminal of the power supply. After setting the electroplating current value and electroplating time on the power supply, the horizontal electroplating thickening of the membrane material 800 is completed, thus producing a composite current collector sample.

[0120] The electroplating experimental apparatus provided in this embodiment can reduce the cost and risk of directly purchasing expensive dedicated equipment. It lowers R&D experimental costs and trial-and-error costs, requiring only a small amount of film material (800), a small amount of reagent, and a small amount of electricity, without disrupting large production lines, and can complete multiple sets of experiments in minutes to an hour. It is ideal for formula screening, process window parameter exploration, and defect analysis, providing guidance for new product R&D experiments or resolving anomalies in production lines. In the R&D process of composite current collectors, the electroplating experimental apparatus enables stable, controllable, precise, and easy-to-operate process parameters, improving R&D accuracy and efficiency, and accelerating the transition of new products from the laboratory to factory production.

[0121] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined in any way. For the sake of brevity, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0122] The above embodiments merely illustrate several implementation methods of this application, and while the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the concept of this application, and these all fall within the protection scope of this application. Therefore, the protection scope of this patent application should be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An electroplating experimental apparatus, characterized in that, include: Electroplating tank; A liquid storage tank assembly includes a liquid storage tank and a heating element and a temperature sensor respectively installed in the liquid storage tank; The liquid inlet pipe and the liquid outlet pipe are respectively connected between the electroplating tank and the liquid storage tank; The pump body is connected to the inlet pipeline; An anode plate is disposed within the electroplating tank; A fixing component is placed inside the electroplating tank; the fixing component is used to horizontally fix and tension the film material. A conductive component is mounted on the fixing component, and the conductive component is used to connect the membrane material; The anode plate is used to connect to the positive terminal of the power supply, and the conductive component is used to connect to the negative terminal of the power supply.

2. The electroplating experimental apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fixing assembly includes a support frame, two winding shafts, a pressure plate, and a tensioning plate; The two winding shafts are respectively fixed to both ends of the membrane material, and each end of the winding shaft is provided with a flat part, which is placed on the support frame; The pressure plate is mounted on the support frame, and the end of the pressure plate abuts against the flat part; The tensioning plate is mounted on the pressure plate, and the opposite sides of the tensioning plate respectively abut against the flat parts of the two winding shafts.

3. The electroplating experimental apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The winding shaft includes two detachably connected clamping members that clamp the ends of the membrane material, and the membrane material is wound around the winding shaft.

4. The electroplating experimental apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, The pressure plate is slidably connected to the support frame, the sliding direction of the pressure plate is parallel to the height direction of the support frame, and the pressure plate and the support frame are locked together by a locking device; and / or, The tensioning plate is slidably connected to the pressure plate, and the tensioning plate and the pressure plate are locked together by a locking member. The tensioning plate has a tensioning portion that abuts against the winding shaft, and the width of the tensioning portion gradually increases along the extending direction of the tensioning plate.

5. The electroplating experimental apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The conductive component includes an electrical connector, a guide rod, an upper clamping plate, a lower clamping plate, and an elastic element; The electrical connector is mounted on the fixing assembly. The two ends of the guide rod are respectively connected to the electrical connector and the lower clamping plate. The upper clamping plate is slidably connected to the guide rod. The two ends of the elastic member are respectively connected to the electrical connector and the upper clamping plate. The edge of the membrane material is held between the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate.

6. The electroplating experimental apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The fixing component is provided with a support base, and the electrical connector is fixed to the support base by fasteners; The electrical connector has a guide groove for the fastener to pass through, and the conductive component can move closer to or further away from the membrane material when it moves along the extension direction of the guide groove.

7. The electroplating experimental apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that, The upper or lower clamping plate is a conductive element, and the anode plate is located on the side of the film material facing the conductive element; or, Both the upper clamping plate and the lower clamping plate are conductive components, and the anode plates are respectively provided on opposite sides of the membrane material.

8. The electroplating experimental apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that, The conductive component further includes a cover over the conductive member, wherein the conductive member protrudes from the cover and makes conductive contact with the membrane material on the side facing the membrane material; and / or, A handle is provided on the side of the upper clamp facing the electrical connector.

9. The electroplating experimental apparatus according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The electroplating experimental apparatus also includes a diversion pipe, one end of which is located downstream of the pump body and connected to the liquid inlet pipe, and the other end of which is connected to the liquid storage tank.

10. The electroplating experimental apparatus according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that, The liquid inlet pipeline includes a liquid inlet section extending into the electroplating tank. The end of the liquid inlet section away from the liquid storage tank is sealed. Multiple spray holes arranged at equal intervals are provided on the side wall of the liquid inlet section.

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