Gel Polymer Electrodes With Oxygen-Blocked Hot-Roll Curing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of large-area lithium secondary batteries using gel polymer electrolytes is hindered by incomplete impregnation and curing in oxygen environments, leading to issues such as volatilization and separation of the electrolyte, which compromises safety and performance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the application of an electrode slurry containing a gel polymer electrolyte on a current collector, followed by hot rolling with an oxygen blocking member to cure the electrolyte, ensuring complete impregnation and curing even in an oxygen environment, thereby improving electrode rigidity and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If gel polymer electrolyte is used in oxygen environment, then manufacturing process is simplified, but incomplete curing occurs leading to electrolyte volatilization and separation
Solution Approach 1:
A polymer coating layer is applied as an intermediary between the gel polymer electrolyte and oxygen environment. This coating layer acts as a barrier that prevents oxygen from penetrating into the electrolyte, thereby preventing incomplete curing and electrolyte degradation while allowing the manufacturing to proceed in ambient conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer coating is applied in advance before the electrolyte is exposed to oxygen during manufacturing. This preliminary protective action prevents the harmful oxidation and incomplete curing reactions from occurring, ensuring complete electrolyte formation without requiring oxygen-free environments
2Reliability
If oxygen blocking member is added to prevent incomplete curing, then electrolyte stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer coating layer serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an oxygen barrier to prevent incomplete curing, provides mechanical protection to the electrolyte, and maintains electrode rigidity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
3Productivity
If gel polymer electrolyte is applied without complete curing, then manufacturing time is reduced, but electrode rigidity and performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer coating is applied preliminarily to seal the electrolyte before complete curing occurs. This allows the electrolyte to be applied and partially set quickly without immediate oxygen exposure, and then the coating is applied to enable complete curing afterward, thus maintaining both fast manufacturing and proper electrode rigidity
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 approach allows for uniform gelation throughout the electrode, enhancing capacity, output, and lifespan of the lithium secondary battery, enabling mass production without the need for additional cell assembly steps and oxygen-free environments.
Implementation Method 1
hot rolling the electrode slurry covered with the oxygen blocking member, wherein the electrolyte solution is heat cured through the hot rolling
Implementation Method 2
the electrode active material layer includes an electrode active material and a gel polymer electrolyte
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode, a method for manufacturing the same, and a lithium secondary battery including the same are provided. The electrode includes an electrode current collector; and an electrode active material layer disposed on at least one side of the electrode current collector, wherein the electrode active material layer includes an electrode active material and a gel polymer electrolyte, and the electrode has a rigidity of 2 kPa to 4 kPa. The method includes applying an electrode slurry containing an electrolyte solution on an electrode current collector, disposing an oxygen blocking member on the electrode slurry applied on the electrode current collector, and hot rolling the electrode slurry covered with the oxygen blocking member, wherein the electrolyte solution is heat cured through the hot rolling.