High-Surface-Area Carbon Electrode Material Without Binder

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrode materials for electrical storage devices face issues with increased internal resistance and degraded performance due to the use of binders, particularly when high specific surface area carbon materials are used, leading to difficulties in forming electrode films and potential side reactions.

Innovation Solution

A carbon material with a BET specific surface area of 100 m²/g or more, featuring a plurality of recesses and protrusions, is produced without substantial binder content, allowing for self-supporting film formation through compression, reducing binder usage and enhancing battery characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If activated carbon with large specific surface area is used as electrode material, then battery characteristics such as capacity are enhanced, but it becomes difficult to form an electrode film unless the amount of binder is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespecific surface areaVSAvoidease of forming electrode film
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The carbon material itself provides the binding function through its surface properties. The carbon material has a specific surface area of 100 m²/g or more and possesses surface characteristics that enable it to bind with other carbon material particles directly, eliminating the need for additional binder substances. This self-binding capability allows the formation of electrode films even with minimal or no binder content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the surface area parameter to 100 m²/g or more, which fundamentally alters the surface properties of the carbon material. This parameter change enables sufficient inter-particle binding without requiring external binders, as the high surface area provides adequate binding sites for direct carbon-to-carbon adhesion in the electrode film structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If binder is used in electrode material, then electrode film formation is facilitated, but internal resistance increases and battery performance degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of forming electrode filmVSAvoidbattery performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the binder component from the electrode material system. By using carbon material with specific surface area of 100 m²/g or more, the binder function is completely removed, leaving only pure carbon material and conductive additives. This extraction eliminates the sources of internal resistance and performance degradation associated with binders while maintaining electrode film formation capability through the carbon material's inherent surface properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The carbon material serves its own binding function through its surface characteristics. The high surface area carbon material particles bind to each other directly without requiring separate binder substances, thereby eliminating the harmful effects of binders on battery performance while still achieving proper electrode film formation and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If binder is used in electrode material, then electrode film formation is facilitated, but side reactions and decomposition occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of forming electrode filmVSAvoidside reactions and decomposition
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention completely removes the binder substance from the electrode material composition. By relying on the surface properties of carbon material with 100 m²/g or more specific surface area, the electrode film can be formed without any binder, thereby eliminating all side reactions and decomposition issues that would otherwise be caused by binder materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The carbon material provides its own binding functionality through its high surface area characteristics, eliminating the need for external binder substances. This self-service approach prevents any chemical interactions between binders and electrolyte or other electrode components, thereby preventing side reactions and decomposition that would harm battery performance and longevity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3831772B1Carbon material and method for producing same, electrode material for electrical storage device, and electrical storage device
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO LTD
  • EP3831772B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3831772B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3831772B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Provided is a carbon material that is large in specific surface area, and moreover, capable of easily forming an electrode film even when any binder is substantially not contained. Provided is a carbon material that has a BET specific surface area of 100 m2/g or more, with the weight of the carbon material remaining on a sieve after shaking being 90% by weight or more with respect to 100% by weight of the carbon material put in the sieve, when 0.2 g of the carbon material packed in a cylindrical syringe of 2 cm in diameter is compressed at a pressure of 16 kN, the whole of the compressed carbon material is taken out from the syringe and put in the sieve with an aperture of 4.75 mm, and the sieve is shaken for 1 minute.