Heat-Shrinkable Cable Battery Coating Adhesion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a method to form a protection coating suitable for cable-type secondary batteries with a linear structure, as existing methods do not effectively adapt to the unique shape requirements of such batteries.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the preparation of an electrode assembly with a predetermined horizontal cross-section and a heat-shrinkable protection coating, where a thin-film outer current collector is formed on the inner surface of a heat-shrinkable tube, and the electrode assembly is inserted and heated to adhere the coating closely to the outer surface, ensuring flexibility and free shape adaptation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a heat-shrinkable protection coating is formed by conventional methods, then the battery structure is protected, but the coating does not adhere closely to the outer surface of the electrode assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies heat treatment to change the physical state of the heat-shrinkable protection coating, causing it to shrink and conform closely to the outer surface of the electrode assembly. This parameter change (temperature) transforms the coating from a loose state to a tightly adhered state, resolving the adhesion quality issue without requiring complex coating formation processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes thermal contraction (reverse of expansion) of the heat-shrinkable protection coating. When heated, the coating material contracts and shrinks, creating tight adhesion to the electrode assembly outer surface. This thermal effect automatically achieves close contact and eliminates gaps, solving the adhesion problem while maintaining manufacturing simplicity
2Manufacturing precision
If the protection coating is formed to ensure close contact, then adhesion is enhanced, but additional post-processing drying steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the coating formation process with the heat treatment process into a single integrated step. The heat treatment simultaneously achieves both the close contact adhesion and the drying of the coating, eliminating the need for separate post-processing drying steps and thereby improving production efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a continuous manufacturing process where the heat treatment action serves multiple functions continuously: it shrinks the protection coating for adhesion, dries the coating material, and seals the battery structure. This continuous multi-functional action eliminates intermediate steps and maintains production flow, enhancing productivity
3Adaptability or versatility
If a linear cable-type battery structure is used, then shape adaptability is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a heat-shrinkable protection coating that acts as a flexible thin film surrounding the linear electrode assembly. This flexible coating can conform to the cable-type geometry and is applied through a simple heat treatment process, achieving shape adaptability without significantly complicating the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The heat-shrinkable protection coating performs self-forming through automatic shrinkage when heated. The coating material itself provides the conforming action to match the cable-type battery shape without requiring complex external forming equipment or multi-step manufacturing processes, thereby maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving shape adaptability
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 simplifies the manufacturing process, enhances adhesion between the active material layer and the outer current collector, and prevents performance deterioration by using a heat-shrinkable tube to form a close contact with the electrode assembly, allowing for continuous production without post-processing drying.
Implementation Method 1
heating to shrink the heat-shrinkable protection coating such that the shrunken protection coating is closely adhered to the outer surface of the electrode assembly
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Provided is a method for manufacturing a cable-type secondary battery including preparing an electrode assembly having a horizontal cross section of a predetermined shape and extending longitudinally, the electrode assembly including an inner current collector, an anode active material layer, a cathode active material layer, and an electrolyte layer interposed between the anode active material layer and the cathode active material layer, preparing a heat-shrinkable protection coating by forming a thin-film outer current collector on the inner surface of a heat-shrinkable tube, and inserting the electrode assembly into the heat-shrinkable protection coating and heating to shrink the heat-shrinkable protection coating such that the shrunken protection coating is closely adhered to the outer surface of the electrode assembly. The manufacturing method may eliminate the need of post-processing such as drying, thereby simplifying the method and carrying out the method in a continuous manner.