Slot-Die Electrode Coating With Edge Material for Uniform Slurry Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrode coating devices result in non-uniform slurry thickness due to protrusions at the ends of the slurry applied to substrates, leading to degraded processability and stability issues in battery cell production.
Innovation Solution
An electrode coating device and method utilizing a slot die coater with an edge adjusting material that contacts the slurry to adjust protrusions, using materials with higher surface tension and adhesive properties to ensure uniform thickness, including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-based, polyolefin-based, and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)-based materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a slot die coater is used to apply slurry to a substrate, then the coating process is efficient and continuous, but protrusions form at the ends of the slurry resulting in non-uniform thickness
Solution Approach 1:
An edge adjusting material is introduced as an intermediary substance between the slurry and the substrate edges. This material has higher surface tension than the slurry, causing it to be drawn into the protrusion regions by capillary action and surface tension differential. The edge adjusting material effectively pulls back the protruding slurry edges, achieving uniform thickness while maintaining continuous coating operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the surface tension parameter by introducing an edge adjusting material with specifically higher surface tension than the slurry. This parameter difference creates the driving force for the edge adjusting material to move into the protrusion regions and level the slurry edges, transforming the non-uniform coating into a uniform one without stopping the coating process.
2Manufacturing precision
If edge adjusting material is provided to remove protrusions, then slurry thickness uniformity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The edge adjusting material serving means can be integrated with the existing slot die coater structure, allowing the same device to perform both slurry deposition and edge adjustment functions. The edge adjusting material is supplied through the existing coating head structure, eliminating the need for separate complex adjustment mechanisms and reducing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The edge adjusting material automatically performs the edge leveling function through its own surface tension properties and capillary action. The material self-regulates by being drawn into protrusion regions and pulling back the slurry edges, eliminating the need for external mechanical adjustment devices or complex control systems.
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 edge adjusting material effectively removes protrusions, achieving uniform slurry thickness and improving the stability and processability of secondary battery electrodes.
Implementation Method 1
the surface tension of the edge adjusting material may be provided greater than that of the slurry
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode coating device and an electrode coating method are disclosed. An electrode coating device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a slot die coater to apply a slurry to a substrate; and an edge adjusting material providing means providing an edge adjusting material to adjust a protrusion formed at an end of the slurry by contacting the slurry.