Asymmetric Binder Composition for Flexible Silicon Battery Electrodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional binder compositions for non-aqueous secondary battery electrodes lack sufficient flexibility and cycle characteristics, limiting the performance of secondary batteries.

Innovation Solution

A binder composition incorporating an asymmetric block copolymer with specific weight-average molecular weight ranges for aromatic vinyl and aliphatic conjugated diene monomer units, enhancing flexibility and cycle characteristics by forming an electrode with improved adhesion and deformation compliance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional binder compositions are used, then electrode adhesion is maintained, but electrode flexibility is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrode adhesionVSAvoidelectrode flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite binder system comprising both a polyacrylic acid component and a polyvinylidene fluoride component. The polyacrylic acid provides strong adhesion through carboxyl group interactions with electrode materials, while the polyvinylidene fluoride contributes flexibility and elasticity to the electrode structure, thereby resolving the contradiction between adhesion strength and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The binder composition is designed with different functional components distributed throughout the binder matrix. The polyacrylic acid regions provide localized strong bonding sites for electrode adhesion, while the polyvinylidene fluoride regions provide localized flexibility and deformability, allowing different parts of the binder to fulfill different functional requirements simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If conventional binder compositions are used, then basic electrode function is maintained, but cycle characteristics are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecycle characteristicsVSAvoidbattery performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes specific parameters of the binder components including the weight ratio between polyacrylic acid and polyvinylidene fluoride (preferably 95:5 to 50:50), the carboxyl group content of polyacrylic acid (0.1 to 10 mmol/g), and the molecular weight ranges of both components. These parameter optimizations enhance both cycle stability and overall battery performance by improving electrode integrity during repeated charging-discharging cycles while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3950750B1Binder composition for non-aqueous secondary battery, slurry composition for non-aqueous secondary battery electrode, electrode for non-aqueous secondary battery, and non-aqueous secondary battery
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 ZEON CORP
  • EP3950750B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

A binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery contains a particulate polymer including a block copolymer A represented by the following general formula (A): Ar1a-Da-Ar2a. (In general formula (A), Ar1a indicates a block region that has a weight-average molecular weight of 5,500 to 20,000 and is formed of an aromatic vinyl monomer unit, Ar2a indicates a block region that has a weight-average molecular weight of 40,000 to 400,000 and is formed of an aromatic vinyl monomer unit, and Da indicates a block region that is formed of an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit.)