Porous Membrane Strength via Organic Particle Shape Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium ion secondary batteries face challenges with porous membranes containing organic fine particles, including low strength, difficulty in achieving uniform membrane thickness and strength distribution, leading to potential short circuits and reduced battery performance due to moisture and metal ion contamination.

Innovation Solution

The use of organic fine particles with specific shape factors and size distributions, closer to spherical shapes, to enhance the strength and uniformity of the porous membrane, while minimizing contamination and preventing short circuits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If inorganic fine particles are used in the porous membrane, then thermal resistance and strength are improved, but moisture and metal ion contamination increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestrength of porous membraneVSAvoidmoisture and metal ion contamination
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the material parameter from inorganic fine particles to organic fine particles with specific properties (polystyrene, polyacrylic acid, or polyacrylonitrile). This material substitution fundamentally alters the contamination profile while maintaining the porous membrane's structural integrity and strength requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If organic fine particles are used in the porous membrane, then moisture and metal ion contamination is reduced, but strength and short circuit prevention ability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture and metal ion contaminationVSAvoidstrength of porous membrane
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention optimizes specific parameters of organic fine particles including particle size (0.1-10 μm), shape factor (0.7-1.3), and chemical composition (polystyrene, polyacrylic acid, or polyacrylonitrile). These parameter adjustments enable the organic particles to achieve both low contamination and sufficient mechanical strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The porous membrane is formulated as a composite material system containing organic fine particles dispersed in a binder matrix. This composite structure combines the low-contamination benefits of organic particles with the mechanical strength provided by the binder, resolving the contradiction between contamination reduction and strength maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Object-affected harmful factors

If organic fine particles are used in the porous membrane, then moisture and metal ion contamination is reduced, but uniform distribution of membrane thickness and strength becomes difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemoisture and metal ion contaminationVSAvoiduniform distribution of membrane thickness and strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention specifies a shape factor range (0.7-1.3) for the organic fine particles, which represents particles that are nearly spherical. This geometric parameter control ensures uniform packing behavior and consistent distribution throughout the membrane, achieving both low contamination and uniform thickness/strength distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP2605312B1Porous membrane for secondary battery, production method therefor, and use thereof
Publication Date: 2018.08.01 ZEON CORP
  • EP2605312B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2605312B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2605312B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A porous membrane for a secondary battery including non-electroconductive particles and a binder for a porous membrane, wherein the non-electroconductive particles are particles of a polymer, an arithmetic mean value of a shape factor of the non-electroconductive particles is 1.05 to 1.60, a variation coefficient of the shape factor is 16% or less, and a variation coefficient of a particle diameter of the non-electroconductive particles is 26% or less; manufacturing method thereof; and an electrode, a separator and a battery having the same.