Block Copolymer Dispersant for Stable High-Solid Electrode Slurries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispersants, such as polyvinyl alcohol and polyethylene glycol, fail to effectively improve the stability of electrode slurries, limiting the performance of batteries.
Innovation Solution
A block copolymer dispersant with specific repeating structural units and molecular weights is used to enhance the dispersing effect and stability of electrode slurries, comprising a first block with Formula I and a second block with Formula II, facilitating homogeneous dispersion and increased solid content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional dispersants (polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol) are used, then the dispersing effect is limited, but the slurry stability cannot be effectively improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by designing a block copolymer dispersant that combines hydrophobic blocks (containing aromatic rings and alkyl groups) and hydrophilic blocks (containing polar functional groups). This composite structure enables the dispersant to simultaneously interact with both organic solvents and inorganic fillers, achieving effective dispersion and improved slurry stability that conventional single-structure dispersants cannot achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating different functional blocks within the dispersant molecule. The hydrophobic blocks locally interact with organic solvents and filler surfaces, while the hydrophilic blocks locally interact with the solvent medium. This localized functional differentiation allows each part of the dispersant to perform its specific dispersing function optimally, resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and complexity.
2Quantity of substance
If solid content of slurry is increased, then battery performance is improved, but slurry stability and homogeneity become harder to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The block copolymer dispersant with its composite hydrophobic-hydrophilic structure forms protective colloidal layers around filler particles even at high solid contents. This composite structure prevents particle aggregation and maintains slurry homogeneity, enabling the system to achieve both high solid content (improving battery performance) and good slurry stability.
3Reliability
If electrical conductivity of slurry is improved, then battery cycle performance is enhanced, but the complexity of dispersant synthesis increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the dispersant into distinct functional blocks (hydrophobic blocks and hydrophilic blocks) that can be synthesized separately through stepwise polymerization and then combined. This segmented approach allows for controlled synthesis of each block with specific properties, making the overall synthesis process more manageable and less complex than creating a completely new single-structure dispersant, while achieving superior electrical conductivity and cycle performance.
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 block copolymer dispersant improves the stability and electrical conductivity of electrode slurries, leading to better battery performance and cycle life.
Implementation Method 1
the dispersant is dissolved in a solvent and are conducive to dispersing other components in the slurry homogeneously
Implementation Method 2
allows the dispersant to contribute to homogeneous dispersion of components, such as an active material and a conductive agent, and further to improve electrical conductivity of the slurry, thereby reducing an electrical resistance of the electrode electrode containing the slurry
Data Source
AI summary
The present application provides a dispersant and a preparation method thereof, a slurry composition and a preparation method thereof, an electrode, and an apparatus containing the electrode plate. The dispersant includes a block copolymer having a first block and a second block, the first block includes a first repeating structural unit shown in Formula I) and a second repeating structural unit shown in Formula II), and the second block includes a third repeating structural unit shown in Formula III) and a fourth repeating structural unit shown in Formula IV), in which n is any integer from 1-25, R1 to R7 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, cyano, carbonyl, carboxy, nitro, sulfonyl, amide, ester, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C15 alkyl or alkoxy, and substituted or unsubstituted C6-C30 aryl and R8, R9, and R10 have a dipole moment of greater than 2×10−30 C·m.