Polyamic Acid Binder for Silicon Anode Cycle Life

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current lithium-ion secondary batteries face limitations in achieving high initial charge/discharge efficiency and cycle characteristics, particularly with silicon-based negative electrodes that experience expansion and contraction, leading to reduced cycle life.

Innovation Solution

An electrode mixture slurry composition incorporating a high-molecular-weight poly(amic acid) and a low-molecular-weight poly(amic acid) as a binder, with specific molecular weight ranges, is used to enhance the binding properties and electron conductivity, improving the performance of silicon-based negative electrodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If silicon-based negative electrodes are used to increase capacity, then the absorption/desorption amount of lithium ions per unit volume increases, but large expansion and contraction promotes pulverization resulting in short charge/discharge cycle life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium ion absorption/desorption amountVSAvoidcharge/discharge cycle life
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the molecular weight parameters of the poly(amic acid) binder, using a combination of high-molecular-weight (5,000-100,000) and low-molecular-weight (200-2,000) components. This parameter optimization allows the binder to effectively suppress silicon particle expansion/contraction while maintaining electrode integrity over extended cycle life

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite binder system comprising two different molecular weight poly(amic acid) components. The high-molecular-weight component provides structural strength while the low-molecular-weight component enhances binding efficiency, creating a synergistic effect that resolves the contradiction between capacity and cycle life

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Duration of action of stationary object

If high-strength binder is used to suppress expansion and contraction of Si particles, then charge/discharge cycle life is improved, but initial charge/discharge efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharge/discharge cycle lifeVSAvoidinitial charge/discharge efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes the molecular weight parameters of the poly(amic acid) binder within specific ranges (high: 5,000-100,000; low: 200-2,000). This parameter control ensures the binder provides sufficient strength for cycle life while maintaining appropriate flexibility and conductivity for high initial charge/discharge efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different molecular weight components of poly(amic acid) to different functional requirements: the high-molecular-weight component addresses structural strength needs for cycle stability, while the low-molecular-weight component addresses binding efficiency and conductivity needs for initial performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3007256B1Electrode slurry composition and electrode
Publication Date: 2019.04.24 NEC CORP
  • EP3007256B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

The present invention relates to an electrode binder composition including a high-molecular-weight poly(amic acid) having a weight-average molecular weight of 5,000 or more and 100,000 or less and a low-molecular-weight poly(amic acid) having a weight-average molecular weight of 100 or more and 2,000 or less, and the present invention can provide an electrode binder composition that leads to a secondary battery having a high capacity superior in the initial charge/discharge efficiency and the cycle characteristics.