Inorganic-Coated Battery Separator for Thin-Cell Strength Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium battery separators face challenges in maintaining mechanical strength while being thin enough to facilitate ion passage, which is crucial for battery safety and performance.
Innovation Solution
A separator with enhanced tensile strength and compression resistance is developed by pre-strengthening a porous polyolefin substrate with a titanium alkoxide solution and an alcohol solution, followed by coating an inorganic layer comprising inorganic particles and a binder.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the separator is made thin to facilitate ion passage, then ion permeability is improved, but mechanical strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining polyolefin base material with inorganic particles (such as aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, or magnesium hydroxide) to form a coated separator structure. This composite structure maintains the thin thickness required for ion permeability while the inorganic particles provide enhanced mechanical strength and thermal stability, resolving the contradiction between thinness and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating a differentiated structure where the base polyolefin layer provides ion permeability and the surface-coated inorganic particle layer provides mechanical reinforcement. This localized functional differentiation allows different regions of the separator to perform different functions - the thin base layer facilitates ion passage while the reinforced surface layer maintains mechanical strength.
2Length of stationary object
If the separator is made thin to reduce thickness, then ion mobility is improved, but tensile strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by coating inorganic particles onto the polyolefin separator. The inorganic particle coating forms a reinforcement layer that significantly enhances tensile strength without adding substantial thickness, allowing the separator to remain thin for ion mobility while gaining the necessary mechanical strength through the composite structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes porous materials by maintaining the microporous structure of the polyolefin separator and coating inorganic particles that fill and reinforce these pores. The porous structure is preserved to allow ion transport while the inorganic particles provide structural reinforcement that enhances tensile strength in the thin separator configuration.
3Speed
If the separator is made thin to enhance ion transport, then discharge rate is improved, but compression resistance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by incorporating inorganic particles into the separator structure. These inorganic particles create a more rigid and compression-resistant framework that maintains the thin separator thickness needed for fast ion transport and high discharge rates while providing the necessary compression resistance through the composite structure's inherent stiffness.
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 solution achieves increased tensile strength, puncture strength, and compression resistance without increasing the total thickness of the separator, thereby enhancing the mechanical integrity and safety of lithium batteries.
Implementation Method 1
sequentially applying a 0.1 wt % to 3 wt % titanium alkoxide solution and an 30 wt % to 70 wt % alcohol solution to the porous polyolefin substrate
Implementation Method 2
sequentially applying a 0.1 wt % to 3 wt % titanium alkoxide solution and an 30 wt % to 70 wt % alcohol solution to the porous polyolefin substrate
Implementation Method 3
sequentially applying a 0.1 wt % to 3 wt % titanium alkoxide solution and an 30 wt % to 70 wt % alcohol solution to the porous polyolefin substrate
Implementation Method 4
the inorganic layer comprises a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder, and is coated on at least one surface of the enhanced porous polyolefin substrate
Data Source
AI summary
A separator and a method for manufacturing thereof are disclosed. The separator comprises an enhanced porous polyolefin substrate and an inorganic layer, wherein the enhanced porous polyolefin substrate is obtained by pre-strengthening a porous polyolefin substrate, and the inorganic layer comprises a plurality of inorganic particles and a binder and coated on at least one surface of the enhanced porous polyolefin substrate, and the pre-strengthening treatment comprises sequentially applying a titanium alkoxide solution and an alcohol solution. The separator of the present invention has improved tensile strength and good compression resistance.