Antistatic Separator Coating for Lithium Battery Manufacturing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rechargeable lithium battery separators easily generate static electricity, leading to handling issues and the absorption of impurities or dust, which can cause short circuits during manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A separator with excellent antistatic characteristics is achieved by coating a polymer porous film with polyether-modified silicone oil, preventing static electricity and the absorption of impurities or dust, and ensuring the separator does not stick to manufacturing equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional polymer porous film is used as a separator, then the battery structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the separator easily generates static electricity causing handling problems and impurity absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a polymer porous film base material with a silane-modified polyether compound coating. This composite structure provides both the mechanical integrity of the polymer film and the antistatic properties of the polyether coating, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and antistatic performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface parameters of the separator by coating it with a silane-modified polyether compound. This coating modifies the surface electrical properties to reduce static electricity generation, while the underlying polymer structure remains unchanged, maintaining manufacturing simplicity.
2Reliability
If a conventional separator is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but impurities or dust are absorbed into the battery causing short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating the separator with a silane-modified polyether compound before battery assembly. This preliminary treatment prevents impurity absorption during the manufacturing process, eliminating the need for additional protective measures later in the manufacturing sequence.
Solution Approach 2:
The silane-modified polyether coating acts as an intermediary layer between the separator and the battery environment. This intermediate layer prevents direct contact between impurities/dust and the separator pores, blocking the absorption pathway while not interfering with the manufacturing process.
3Ease of operation
If a conventional separator is used, then the separator structure is simple, but the separator sticks to workers or machines during manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the surface energy parameters of the separator by applying a silane-modified polyether coating. This parameter change reduces the adhesive properties that cause sticking to workers or machines, improving handling ease while adding only a thin functional layer.
4Reliability
If a separator with antistatic coating is applied, then static electricity and impurity absorption are reduced, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a silane-modified polyether compound that can be applied as a coating solution and then cured through moisture exposure or mild heating. This approach changes the chemical state of the coating from liquid to solid, providing antistatic properties without requiring complex multi-step manufacturing processes.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The antistatic separator improves the reliability of rechargeable lithium batteries by preventing short circuits and facilitating efficient manufacturing by reducing static electricity and impurity absorption.
Implementation Method 1
it has been found that when a separator is coated with a silane-modified polyether compound, the separator has excellent antistatic characteristics
Data Source
AI summary
A separator for a rechargeable lithium battery, a rechargeable lithium battery including the same, and a method of manufacturing a rechargeable lithium battery. The separator includes a separating substrate; and an antistatic agent coated on the separating substrate.