Battery Electrode CNT Network for Conductivity and Slurry Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing secondary batteries face limitations in electrical conductivity and uniform distribution of conductive agents, leading to poor electrode adhesion and reduced battery performance due to the use of conventional conductive agents like carbon black and carbon nanotubes, which suffer from low dispersibility and structural defects.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a carbon nanotube structure with 2 to 5,000 single-walled carbon nanotube units bonded together, dispersed with polyvinylidene fluoride, to form a network structure within the electrode active material layer, enhancing electrical conductivity and adhesion by creating a robust conductive path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional conductive agents like carbon black are used, then manufacturing cost is low, but electrical conductivity is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the conductive agent from point-type (carbon black) to line-type (carbon nanotubes with specific aspect ratios and bonding configurations). By controlling the number of bonded nanotube units (2-1000) and their arrangement, the electrical conductivity parameter is significantly improved while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through controlled bonding processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite conductive agent system where multiple carbon nanotube units are bonded together to form structured assemblies. These composite structures combine the high conductivity of individual nanotubes with enhanced dispersibility and processability, achieving superior electrical conductivity compared to conventional carbon black while remaining manufacturable.
2Reliability
If line-type conductive agents like carbon nanotubes are used to improve electrical conductivity, then electrical conductivity is excellent, but dispersibility in slurry is low due to bundle type or entangled type growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the carbon nanotube structure into controlled units where 2-1000 nanotube units are bonded together in a defined configuration. This segmentation prevents excessive bundling and entanglement while maintaining the high conductivity of nanotube structures, thereby improving dispersibility in slurry without sacrificing electrical conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the structural parameters of the carbon nanotube assembly by controlling the number of bonded units (2-1000) and their spatial arrangement. This parameter control optimizes the balance between maintaining nanotube integrity for conductivity and limiting bundle size for improved dispersibility in the slurry medium.
3Stability of the object's composition
If functional groups are introduced to improve dispersibility of carbon nanotubes, then dispersibility is improved, but surface side reaction occurs and electrochemical properties are deteriorated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a controlled bonding approach that creates stable but not overly persistent nanotube assemblies. The bonding is sufficient to prevent excessive bundling and improve dispersibility during processing, but the structure remains stable enough to prevent unwanted surface reactions, avoiding the need for functional groups that would compromise electrochemical properties.
4Reliability
If thick graphene is used as plane-type conductive agent, then electrical conductivity is excellent, but battery efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the conductive structure into thin, controlled assemblies of 2-1000 nanotube units rather than using thick graphene layers. This segmentation maintains excellent electrical conductivity through the nanotube pathways while reducing the overall thickness and material quantity, thereby improving battery efficiency without sacrificing conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the dimensional parameters of the conductive agent by controlling the number of nanotube units (2-1000) in the bonded structure. This creates a conductive network that is sufficiently thin to maintain high battery efficiency while still providing excellent electrical conductivity through the aligned nanotube pathways.
5Reliability
If plane-type conductive agent like graphene is used, then electrical conductivity is excellent, but electrolyte solution mobility is limited due to wide planar contact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from the planar (flat) structure of graphene to a curved, cylindrical nanotube structure. This curvature allows the conductive agent to maintain excellent electrical conductivity along the tubular pathway while creating more open spaces between structures, thereby improving electrolyte solution mobility compared to wide planar contact of graphene.
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 approach significantly improves electrical conductivity, adhesion, and the life characteristics of secondary batteries by ensuring uniform distribution and maintaining the integrity of the carbon nanotubes, even with a small amount of the conductive agent, thereby enhancing both input and output characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
the conductive agent includes a carbon nanotube structure in which 2 to 5,000 single-walled carbon nanotube units are bonded to each other
Implementation Method 2
life characteristics of the battery may be improved due to excellent electrode adhesion
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode includes an electrode active material, wherein the electrode active material layer includes an electrode active material, polyvinylidene fluoride, and a conductive agent, wherein the conductive agent includes a carbon nanotube structure in which 2 to 5,000 single-walled carbon nanotube units are bonded to each other, and the carbon nanotube structure is included in an amount of 0.01 wt % to 0.5 wt % in the electrode active material layer. A secondary battery including the same, and a method of preparing the electrode are also provided.