Battery Electrode Binder Layering for Adhesion

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for producing battery electrodes result in decreased adhesive strength between the current collector and the electrode active material layer due to binder migration during the drying process, leading to poor battery performance.

Innovation Solution

A method is developed where a binder solution layer is applied to the current collector before coating the compound material paste, allowing the binder to concentrate at the interface during drying, enhancing adhesion and maintaining electrical conductivity by forming a binder solution layer with a non-coated region, which secures an electrically conductive path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If a compound material paste containing binder and active material is coated onto current collector and dried, then the electrode structure is formed, but binder migrates to surface layer during drying causing decreased adhesive strength between current collector and compound material layer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive strengthVSAvoidbinder distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by coating the binder solution onto the current collector before applying the compound material paste. This preliminary binding layer is formed in advance to prevent binder migration during subsequent drying, ensuring the binder remains concentrated at the interface between the current collector and compound material layer, thereby maintaining high adhesive strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Strength

If binder solution layer is applied to current collector before compound material paste, then adhesive strength is enhanced, but additional process step is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive strengthVSAvoidprocess complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the binder application step with the compound material paste coating step by applying the binder solution first, then immediately applying the compound material paste over it. This combination approach integrates two functions (binder application and active material application) into a sequential coating process, enhancing adhesive strength while maintaining process efficiency without requiring separate binder coating equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If binder solution layer is applied to current collector, then adhesive strength is improved, but electrical conductivity may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesive strengthVSAvoidelectrical conductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a binder solution layer with controlled coverage that provides different functions in different regions. The binder solution is applied to specific areas of the current collector where adhesion is needed, while leaving other areas exposed or partially covered to maintain electrical conductivity pathways. This localized application ensures high adhesive strength at the interface without compromising the overall electrical conductivity of the electrode structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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

This method significantly improves the adhesive strength and electrical conductivity between the current collector and the compound material layer, resulting in batteries with high cycle durability, superior output characteristics, and enhanced productivity.

Implementation Method 1

convection occurs during drying, and since binder in the vicinity of the current collector gathers (rises up) in the surface layer portion

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

drying by passing through a hot air dryer and the like to form a layer containing the negative electrode active material

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP2461396B1Method for producing battery electrode
Publication Date: 2020.05.06 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP2461396B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2461396B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2461396B1 patent drawingFigure 6A~6B

AI summary

According to the present invention, formation of a compound material layer is carried out by a method that includes a step of forming a binder solution layer 56 by applying a binder solution 50 containing a binder 54 to a current collector 10, a step of depositing the binder solution layer 56 and a compound material paste layer 46 on the current collector 10 by applying a compound material paste 40 over the binder solution layer 56, and a step of obtaining an electrode in which the compound material layer is formed on the current collector 10 by drying both the binder solution layer 56 and the compound material paste layer 46. Here, the binder solution 56 has a binder solution non-coated region 58 where a surface 12 of the current collector 10 is exposed, and the drying is carried out in a state in which a portion of the compound material paste layer 46 is deposited on the current collector 10 in the binder solution non-coated region 58.