Conductive Polymeric Electrode Material Without Binder Additives

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrode materials for batteries require binders and electronic conductive additives, which increase complexity, cost, reduce energy capacity, and can lead to chemical instability and environmental issues.

Innovation Solution

An electrode material comprising at least one electroactive material and one ionic and electronic conductive polymeric material, eliminating the need for conventional binders and conductive additives, thereby enhancing mechanical and electrochemical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional binders and electronic conductive additives are added to electrode material, then mechanical integrity and electrical conductivity are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of binder and electronic conductive additive into a single polymeric material that provides both mechanical binding and electrical conductivity. This eliminates the need for separate binder and conductive additive components, simplifying the electrode structure and manufacturing process while maintaining mechanical integrity and electrical conductivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The polymeric material serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a binder to hold electrode particles together, provides electrical conductivity to facilitate electron transport, and potentially offers ion transport pathways. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed and simplifies the overall electrode formulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If binder and conductive additive are added to electrode material, then mechanical stability and electrical conductivity are improved, but energy capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidenergy capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By combining binder and conductive additive functions into one polymeric material, the total volume occupied by non-active components is reduced compared to using both separate binder and conductive additive. This increases the proportion of electroactive material in the electrode, thereby improving energy capacity while maintaining mechanical stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If conventional binder is used in electrode material, then adhesion to current collector is improved, but environmental harm and chemical instability increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveadhesionVSAvoidenvironmental impact

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the binder by using polymeric materials with different molecular structures and functional groups that provide adhesion without requiring toxic solvents like NMP. These modified parameters reduce environmental harm while maintaining or improving adhesion properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention discards conventional binders that require toxic solvents for processing and replaces them with polymeric materials that can be processed without such solvents, eliminating the environmental harm associated with solvent disposal and recovery.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

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 electrode material exhibits high electrical conductivity, homogeneity, and stability, with improved rate capability and mechanical stability during charge-discharge cycles, and simplifies the manufacturing process.

Implementation Method 1

the polymeric material is ionic and electronic conductive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonic conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

the polymeric material is ionic and electronic conductive

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectronic conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP4672359A1An ionic and electronic conductive polymeric material for batteries

Publication Date: 2025.12.31 CENT NAT DE LA RECH SCI (C N R S)

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Figure 3A~3D
Figure 4A~4E

AI summary

The present invention relates to batteries, such as lithium, sodium or zinc batteries. In particular, the present invention relates to an electrode material comprising at least one electroactive material and at least one polymeric material. The invention also relates to an electrode comprising said electrode material and to a battery comprising said electrode. The invention is also directed to a method of manufacturing said electrode material, the method comprising at least one step of mixing the polymeric material with the electroactive material, thereby obtaining the electrode material, and optionally at least one step of pouring the obtained electrode material on a current collector.