Positive Electrode Binder Composition to Prevent Plate Cracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rechargeable lithium batteries face challenges in maintaining adhesion, oxidation resistance, and flexibility, leading to cracks in the electrode plates, which affect battery capacity and cycle-life characteristics, particularly with small particle-sized active materials like lithium iron phosphate compounds.

Innovation Solution

A positive electrode design incorporating a binder with a siloxane-based and imide-based repeating units, ranging from 1 wt% to 49 wt%, enhances adhesion, oxidation resistance, and flexibility, reducing crack formation and improving battery performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional binders are used in positive electrodes, then manufacturing is simple, but adhesion and flexibility are insufficient leading to electrode plate cracks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadhesion and flexibilityVSAvoidbinder composition complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining siloxane-based polymer and imide-based polymer in a specific weight ratio (1:9 to 49:51) to create a binder composite that achieves both adhesion and flexibility. The siloxane-based polymer provides flexibility while the imide-based polymer provides adhesion, resolving the contradiction between these two properties through material composition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the weight ratio of siloxane-based polymer to imide-based polymer within the range of 1:9 to 49:51. This parameter optimization allows the binder to achieve the desired balance between adhesion and flexibility, preventing electrode plate cracks while maintaining manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If small particle-sized active materials are used, then energy density improves, but adhesion becomes insufficient causing cracks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy densityVSAvoidadhesion
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials (siloxane-based polymer combined with imide-based polymer) to provide sufficient adhesion for small particle-sized active materials. The siloxane-based polymer's flexibility and the imide-based polymer's adhesion work together to bind small particles effectively, enabling high energy density without cracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by ensuring the binder composite specifically targets the adhesion needs at the particle level for small particle-sized active materials. The binder's dual-polymer composition provides localized adhesion and flexibility exactly where needed at the electrode plate level, allowing small particles to be effectively bound.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If binder with high adhesion is used, then electrode plate strength improves, but flexibility decreases causing brittleness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrode plate strengthVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining siloxane-based polymer (providing flexibility) with imide-based polymer (providing adhesion and strength). This composite binder achieves both electrode plate strength and flexibility simultaneously, preventing the brittleness that would result from using only high-adhesion materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the weight ratio of the two polymers (siloxane-based:imide-based = 1:9 to 49:51) to achieve the desired balance between strength and flexibility. This parameter optimization ensures the electrode plate has sufficient strength while maintaining the flexibility needed to prevent cracking.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4651224A1Positive electrode and rechargeable lithium batteries
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP4651224A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4651224A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4651224A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are a positive electrode, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the positive electrode, the positive electrode including a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer on the positive electrode current collector. The positive electrode active material layer includes a positive electrode active material, a binder, and a conductive material. The binder includes a siloxane-based repeating unit and an imide-based repeating unit, and the binder includes the siloxane-based repeating unit in an amount of ≥ 1 wt% to ≤ 49 wt%.