Separator Pore Filling During Electrode Assembly Pressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for manufacturing electrode assemblies result in a decrease in porosity of the separator due to pressing, which affects the performance and safety of electrochemical devices.
Innovation Solution
A method involving dissolving a polymer soluble in an electrolytic solution in a solvent, filling the pores of a separator substrate with the polymer solution, pressing a stack with electrodes, discharging the polymer solution, and injecting primary and secondary electrolytic solutions to maintain porosity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If pressing force is applied to manufacture electrode assembly, then electrodes and separator are bonded together, but porosity of separator decreases and pores are distorted
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is pre-treated by filling its pores with a polymer solution before the pressing process. This preliminary action creates a protective structure within the pores that prevents distortion during subsequent pressing, allowing strong bonding without porosity loss
Solution Approach 2:
A polymer solution acts as an intermediary substance that is introduced into the separator pores before pressing. This intermediary maintains the pore structure integrity during the pressing operation, enabling both strong bonding and preserved porosity
2Reliability
If separator thickness is reduced to improve ionic conductivity, then battery performance increases, but mechanical strength and stability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes the porous structure of the separator as a functional feature rather than trying to eliminate it. By carefully controlling pore filling with polymer solution and preventing pore distortion, thin separators maintain both high ionic conductivity through their porous structure and mechanical strength through the stabilized pore configuration
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional pressing method is used, then manufacturing process is simple, but porosity decreases leading to reduced battery performance
Solution Approach 1:
The separator undergoes preliminary treatment by filling pores with polymer solution before the standard pressing process. This additional preliminary step preserves porosity during pressing, maintaining battery performance without significantly complicating the overall manufacturing流程
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical-chemical parameters of the separator by introducing polymer solution into the pores before pressing. This parameter change (filling pores with polymer) modifies the separator's properties to resist compression, thereby preserving porosity and battery performance
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 method effectively maintains the porosity of the separator, ensuring consistent performance and safety of the electrochemical device by preventing pore distortion during the assembly process.
Implementation Method 1
filling pores of a separator porous substrate to be used as a separator with the polymer solution
Implementation Method 2
injecting a primary electrolytic solution into the stack of step 3) to discharge the polymer solution in the pores of the separator porous substrate to the outside
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(e)
Figure 3a
AI summary
Disclosed is an electrode assembly manufacturing method, in which, in a step of stacking and pressing electrodes and a separator, pressing is performed in that state in which pores of a separator porous substrate to be used as the separator are filled with a polymer solution. The form or volume of the pores is not changed due to the polymer solution. Consequently, porosity of the separator after manufacture of an electrode assembly is similar to porosity of the separator before stacking. As a result, a battery including the electrode assembly has high ionic conductivity and excellent performance.