Battery Separator Coating for Ion Flow and Thermal Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Secondary batteries face challenges in achieving high energy density while maintaining both good cycling performance and safety performance, as increasing energy density often compromises dynamic, electrochemical, or safety performance.

Innovation Solution

A separator for secondary batteries is developed with a substrate coated with a layer of inorganic and organic particles, where the organic particles form protrusions on the surface, optimizing their size and coverage to enhance ion transmission and thermal management, comprising specific polymers and inorganic materials like boehmite and aluminum oxide, to create a non-uniform pore structure that balances energy density and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the energy density of secondary batteries is increased, then the battery capacity and energy storage are improved, but the cycling performance, electrochemical performance, and safety performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy densityVSAvoidcycling performance and safety performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The separator uses a porous structure with controlled pore size distribution to maintain ion transmission pathways. The porous coating layer allows efficient ion transport while the pore structure provides thermal management capabilities, resolving the contradiction between high energy density and safety performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The separator employs a composite structure combining organic polymer matrix with inorganic particles (such as aluminum oxide and boehmite). This composite material provides both mechanical integrity for cycling stability and thermal conductivity for safety, enabling high energy density without compromising reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the coating layer is made denser to improve safety, then thermal management is enhanced, but ion transmission efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesafety performanceVSAvoidion transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The coating layer exhibits local quality variations with different pore size distributions in different regions. The surface layer has smaller pores for safety while the bulk maintains larger pores for ion transmission, allowing simultaneous optimization of safety performance and ion transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The separator utilizes temperature-dependent parameter changes where the pore structure and material properties vary with temperature. At normal operating temperatures, the structure maintains high ion transmission, while at elevated temperatures, thermal contraction and phase changes enhance safety by blocking ion transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 separator effectively combines high energy density with improved cycling and safety performance by controlling the area coverage and size of organic particles, ensuring efficient ion transmission and thermal management, thereby extending battery life and safety under various operating conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a non-uniform pore structure that balances energy density and safety

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPorosity: Porosity

Implementation Method 2

optimizing their size and coverage to enhance ion transmission

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon transmission: Ion Exchange

Implementation Method 3

ensuring efficient ion transmission and thermal management

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal management: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP4109661B1Separator, preparation method therefor and related secondary battery, battery module, battery pack and device
Publication Date: 2024.05.01 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP4109661B1 patent drawingFigure 1-1~3
  • EP4109661B1 patent drawingFigure 4-1~6
  • EP4109661B1 patent drawingFigure 7~10

AI summary

The present application relates to a separator in the electrochemical field and a preparation method therefor, and to a secondary battery comprising the separator, a device comprising the secondary battery. The separator of the present application is prepared by a simple process and has excellent heat resistance performance. Moreover, the secondary batteries and devices comprising the separator of the present application have good safety performance and cycling performance.