JP6406040B2 - Electrode assembly and battery cell - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electrode assembly and a battery cell.

  Conventionally, an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween is known. For example, in the electrode assembly disclosed in Patent Document 1, a long and belt-like positive electrode and negative electrode are folded in the longitudinal direction so as to form a folded portion where they are overlapped with each other to form a zigzag folded shape. Further, in Patent Document 1, apart from this configuration, a long and strip-shaped negative electrode is folded to form a zigzag folded shape, and a plate-shaped positive electrode is sandwiched between opposing negative electrodes in each of the folded portions. A disclosed configuration is also disclosed.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-116663

  As described above, in the case where the positive electrode and the negative electrode are folded, the stacking operation is easy and the production speed can be improved. However, the positive and negative electrodes facing each other in the folded portion overlap each other, and the overlapped portion becomes a dead space that does not contribute to the battery capacity. For this reason, an energy density becomes small compared with the case where a positive electrode and a negative electrode are laminated | stacked alternately. On the other hand, when the plate-like positive electrode is sandwiched between the folded negative electrodes, such dead space can be reduced. However, since it is necessary to sequentially set a plurality of positive electrodes at predetermined positions during the stacking operation, the production speed is slowed down.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electrode assembly and a battery cell that can achieve both reduction of dead space and improvement of production speed.

  An electrode assembly according to an aspect of the present invention is an electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween, and the first electrode body including one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is A second electrode body having a long first belt-like electrode and a plurality of first individual electrodes and including the other of the positive electrode and the negative electrode has a long second belt-like electrode, The second strip electrode is folded in the longitudinal direction so as to form a folded portion that is overlapped with each other to form a zigzag fold, and the first piece electrode is the opposite surface of the second strip electrode to the first strip electrode. It is sandwiched between them.

  In this electrode assembly, the first strip electrode and the second strip electrode are folded to form a zigzag shape, and the first piece electrode is between the opposite surfaces of the first strip electrode in the second strip electrode. It is sandwiched. Thereby, it is avoided that the second strip electrodes overlap each other in the folded portion of the second strip electrodes, and the dead space is reduced. In addition, since the first piece electrode is sandwiched only between the opposite surfaces of the second belt-like electrodes, between the surfaces on the first belt-like electrode side of the second belt-like electrode and between the opposite surfaces. Compared to the case where the individual electrodes are sandwiched between the two, the number of the individual electrodes is reduced, and the production speed is improved. Therefore, according to this electrode assembly, both reduction of dead space and improvement of production speed can be achieved.

  Further, the second strip electrode may be a plurality of electrode pieces wrapped with a strip separator. In this case, since the second strip electrode and the separator are integrated, the laminating operation is facilitated, and the production rate can be further improved.

  The second electrode body may further include a plurality of second piece electrodes, and the second piece electrodes may be sandwiched between the opposite surfaces of the second strip electrode in the first strip electrode. In this case, it is avoided that the first strip electrodes overlap in the folded portion of the first strip electrodes, and the dead space is reduced. In addition, each band electrode is folded to form a zigzag shape, and the number of individual electrodes is reduced compared to a configuration in which individual electrodes are sandwiched between opposing electrodes in each folded portion. The production speed is improved. Therefore, this electrode assembly can both reduce the dead space and improve the production speed.

  The first strip electrode may be a plurality of electrode pieces wrapped with a strip separator, and the second strip electrode may be a connected body of a plurality of electrode pieces wrapped with the strip separator. In this case, since each of the first strip electrode and the second strip electrode and the separator are integrated, the laminating operation is facilitated and the production rate can be improved. Here, each of the first piece electrode and the second piece electrode may be one in which the electrode piece is wrapped in a bag-like separator, or may be an electrode piece not wrapped in a bag-like separator. However, if the first piece electrode and the second piece electrode are electrode pieces not wrapped with the bag-like separator, the process of wrapping these electrode pieces with the bag-like separator can be omitted, so that the production rate can be improved. , Material cost can be reduced.

  Further, the first piece electrode may be formed by wrapping an electrode piece with a bag-shaped separator, and the second piece piece electrode may be formed by wrapping an electrode piece with a bag-shaped separator. In this case, since the electrode strips constituting each of the first strip electrode, the second strip electrode, the first piece electrode, and the second piece electrode are wrapped by the bag-like separator, the electrode pieces are provided on the surface of each electrode piece. It can suppress that the fine powder of the active material layer falls (powder falling).

  The second strip electrode may be a plurality of electrode pieces wrapped with a strip separator, and the second piece electrode may be formed by wrapping the electrode strip with a bag-like separator. In this case, the electrode pieces constituting each of the first strip electrode and the first piece electrode are not wrapped by the separator. With such a configuration, the process of wrapping these electrode pieces with a separator can be omitted, so that the production speed can be improved and the material cost can be reduced. In particular, since the process of wrapping the electrode pieces constituting the long first strip electrode with the separator can be omitted, the material cost can be effectively reduced.

  The battery cell according to one aspect of the present invention includes the electrode assembly housed in a case.

  In this battery cell, the first strip electrode and the second strip electrode are folded to form a zigzag shape, and the first individual electrode is sandwiched between the opposite surfaces of the first strip electrode in the second strip electrode. It is. Thereby, it is avoided that the second strip electrodes overlap each other in the folded portion of the second strip electrodes, and the dead space is reduced. In addition, since the first single electrode is disposed only between the opposite surfaces of the second belt-like electrode, between the surfaces on the first belt-like electrode side of the second belt-like electrode and between the opposite surfaces. Compared with the case where the first piece electrode is disposed on both sides, the number of the piece electrodes is reduced, and the production speed is improved. Therefore, according to this battery cell, it is possible to achieve both reduction of dead space and improvement of production speed.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electrode assembly and battery cell which can make the reduction of a dead space and the improvement of production speed compatible can be provided.

It is a schematic sectional drawing of the battery cell which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the electrode assembly in the II-II line | wire of FIG. (A) is the schematic of the assembly process of an electrode assembly, (b) is the elements on larger scale of (a). It is the schematic of a 1st modification. It is the schematic of a 2nd modification. It is the schematic of a 3rd modification.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or equivalent elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a battery cell 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an electrode assembly 20 taken along line II-II in FIG. Fig.3 (a) is the schematic of an assembly process, FIG.3 (b) is the elements on larger scale of Fig.3 (a). In FIG. 1, an arrow D indicates, for example, a vertical direction. The battery cell 1 is a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery such as a lithium ion secondary battery.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the battery cell 1 includes a case 10 and an electrode assembly 20. The case 10 is, for example, a substantially rectangular parallelepiped housing. The case 10 is made of a metal such as aluminum. The case 10 includes a main body portion 12 that opens vertically upward, and a lid portion 14 that closes the opening of the main body portion 12.

  The electrode assembly 20 is accommodated in the case 10. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the electrode assembly 20, a negative electrode (first electrode body) 30 and a positive electrode (second electrode body) 50 are stacked with a separator 70 interposed therebetween. Yes. The separator 70 is, for example, a microporous film, and the separator 70 is impregnated with an electrolytic solution. The electrolytic solution is, for example, an organic solvent-based or non-aqueous electrolytic solution, and is also impregnated in negative electrode active material layers 36 and 42 and a positive electrode active material layer 60 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the negative electrode 30 has a tab portion 72 that protrudes vertically upward, and the tab portion 72 is electrically connected to a conductive member 74. The conductive member 74 is electrically connected to a negative electrode terminal 76 disposed so as to penetrate the lid portion 14 of the case 10. The lid 14 and the negative electrode terminal 76 are insulated by an insulating member 78A and an insulating member 78B.

  The positive electrode 50 has a tab portion 82 that protrudes vertically upward, and is electrically connected to the conductive member 84 at the tab portion 82. The conductive member 84 is electrically connected to a positive electrode terminal 86 disposed so as to penetrate the lid portion 14 of the case 10. The lid 14 and the positive electrode terminal 86 are insulated by an insulating member 78A and an insulating member 78B.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the negative electrode 30 includes a long and strip-shaped first strip electrode 32 and a plurality of first piece electrodes 38. The first strip electrode 32 includes a long and strip-shaped metal foil 34 and a negative electrode active material layer 36 that covers one surface of the metal foil 34 on the positive electrode 50 side.

  The metal foil 34 is a copper foil, for example. The negative electrode active material layer 36 includes, for example, a negative electrode active material and a binder. Examples of the negative electrode active material include carbon such as graphite, highly oriented graphite, mesocarbon microbeads, hard carbon, and soft carbon, alkali metals such as lithium and sodium, metal compounds, and SiOx (0.5 ≦ x ≦ 1). .5), and boron-added carbon.

  The first piece electrode 38 includes a rectangular plate-like electrode piece 40 and a negative electrode active material layer 42 covering both surfaces of the electrode piece 40. The electrode piece 40 is a metal foil such as a copper foil. The negative electrode active material layer 42 includes the same negative electrode active material and binder as the negative electrode active material layer 36.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the positive electrode 50 includes a long and strip-shaped second strip electrode 52. In the present embodiment, the second strip electrode 52 is integrated with the strip separator 70. The separator 70 is formed by connecting a plurality of bag-shaped separators 58 to each other, and is formed in a long and strip shape. In each of these bag-like separators 58, rectangular plate-like electrode pieces 56 constituting the second strip electrode 52 are arranged. The second belt-like electrode 52 corresponds to an individual electrode connector in which the electrode piece 56 is wrapped with a bag-like separator 58. In other words, the second strip electrode 52 is a plurality of electrode pieces 56 wrapped with a strip separator.

  The electrode piece 56 is a metal foil such as an aluminum foil. A positive electrode active material layer 60 is provided on both surfaces of the electrode piece 56. The positive electrode active material layer 60 includes, for example, a positive electrode active material and a binder. Examples of the positive electrode active material include composite oxide, metallic lithium, and sulfur. Examples of the composite oxide include those containing at least one of manganese, nickel, cobalt, and aluminum and lithium.

  Each bag-like separator 58 has a bag shape in which a drawing portion of the tab portion 82 is opened, for example. These bag-like separators 58 are welded and connected at the end portions in the longitudinal direction. In FIG. 2, this welded portion is indicated by reference numeral 59. As a method of forming the second strip-shaped electrode 52, a method in which a plurality of electrode pieces 56 are arranged at predetermined intervals between two strip-shaped separators, and the separators are welded so as to surround the periphery of the electrode pieces 56. It is done. Alternatively, a method of preparing a plurality of electrode pieces 56 wrapped with the bag-shaped separator 58 and welding the end portions of the bag-shaped separator 58 may be used.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first strip electrode 32 and the second strip electrode 52 are folded in the longitudinal direction so as to form folded portions 32 </ b> A and 52 </ b> A that are overlapped with each other to form a zigzag folded shape. Here, the zigzag folded shape refers to a shape in which a long band-like body is folded at a predetermined interval, for example, such that mountain folding and valley folding are alternately repeated. In the first strip electrode 32 and the second strip electrode 52, the folded portion 32A and the folded portion 52A are overlapped with each other, and the negative electrode active material layer 36 and the bag-shaped separator 58 are in contact with each other. Further, in the folded portion 32A of the first strip electrode 32, the metal foils 34 of the first strip electrode 32 are in contact with each other.

  The first strip electrode 38 is sandwiched between the opposite surfaces 53 of the second strip electrode 52 (the surface opposite to the first strip electrode 32) 53. In this case, the opposite surface 53 is a surface of the bag-like separator 58 on the side opposite to the first strip electrode 32. That is, in the folded portion 52A of the second strip electrode 52, the second strip electrodes 52 do not overlap each other, the negative electrode active material layers 42 on both surfaces of the first piece electrode 38, and the bag of the second strip electrode 52 The cylindrical separator 58 overlaps and is in contact.

  As described above, in the electrode assembly 20, the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 50 include the first strip electrode 32, the second strip electrode 52, the first piece electrode 38, the second strip electrode 52, the first strip electrode 32, The first strip electrode 32, the second strip electrode 52, the first piece electrode 38,... A separator 70 (bag-shaped separator 58) is interposed between the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 50.

  Next, the assembly process of the electrode assembly 20 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the welded portion 59 is omitted. In the assembly process, the first strip electrode 32 and the second strip electrode 52 are folded in the longitudinal direction so as to overlap each other, and the first piece electrode 38 is sandwiched between the opposite surfaces 53 of the second strip electrode 52. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3A, by inserting (pushing) a plurality of first piece electrodes 38 into predetermined positions of the first strip electrode 32 and the second strip electrode 52, the first strip electrode 32 and the first strip electrode 32 The electrode assembly 20 may be assembled by folding the two-band electrodes 52 together.

  Alternatively, the superimposed first strip electrode 32 and second strip electrode 52 may be sequentially folded while sandwiching the first piece electrode 38 at a predetermined position. In this case, the first piece electrode 38 is placed on the second band-shaped electrode 52 before the first band-shaped electrode 32 and the second band-shaped electrode 52 that are overlapped are folded back to the side where the second band-shaped electrodes 52 face each other. Then, the electrode assembly 20 may be assembled by repeatedly performing the process of turning back the first strip electrode 32 and the second strip electrode 52 on the first individual electrode 38 on which the first strip electrode 32 and the second strip electrode 52 are placed.

  In the electrode assembly 20 described above, the first belt-like electrode 32 and the second belt-like electrode 52 are folded to form a zigzag shape, and the first piece electrode 38 is formed between the opposite surfaces 53 of the second belt-like electrode 52. It is sandwiched between. Thereby, it is avoided that the second strip electrodes 52 overlap each other in the folded portion 52A of the second strip electrode 52, and the dead space is reduced. Moreover, since the 1st piece electrode 38 is pinched | interposed only between the opposite surfaces 53 of the 2nd strip electrode 52, between the surfaces by the side of the 1st strip electrode 32 in the 2nd strip electrode 52, and the opposite Compared to the case where the individual electrodes are sandwiched between the surfaces 53, the number of the individual electrodes is reduced, and the production speed is improved. Therefore, according to the electrode assembly 20 and the battery cell 1 including the same, it is possible to achieve both an increase in energy density and an improvement in production speed due to a reduction in dead space.

  Further, in the electrode assembly 20, the second strip electrode 52 corresponds to an individual electrode connection body in which the electrode pieces are wrapped by the bag-like separator 58, and the second strip electrode 52 and the separator 70 are integrated. Therefore, the laminating operation is facilitated and the production speed is further improved.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The present invention can be modified without departing from the scope described in the claims or applied to other embodiments. May be.

  For example, as in the first modification shown in FIG. 4, the positive electrode 50 may further include a plurality of second piece electrodes 62. Similar to the first piece electrode 38, the second piece electrode 62 includes a rectangular plate-like electrode piece and a positive electrode active material layer covering both surfaces of the electrode piece. The electrode piece is a metal foil such as an aluminum foil. The positive electrode active material layer includes the same positive electrode active material and binder as the positive electrode active material layer 60. Further, in the first modification example, the first strip electrode 32 of the negative electrode 30 is also an individual electrode coupling body in which the electrode strip 66 is wrapped with the bag-shaped separator 68, similarly to the second strip electrode 52. The electrode piece 66 is a metal foil such as a copper foil.

  In the electrode assembly of the first modification, the second piece electrode 62 is sandwiched between the opposite surfaces 33 of the first strip electrode 32 of the second strip electrode 52. In this case, the opposite surface 33 is a surface opposite to the second strip electrode 52 in the bag-shaped separator 68. In the first modification, the first strip electrodes 32 do not overlap each other even in the folded portion 32A of the first strip electrode 32, and the positive electrode active material layers on both surfaces of the second piece electrode 62 and the first strip electrode 32. The bag-shaped separator 68 overlaps and comes into contact.

  According to the first modification, it is avoided that the first strip electrodes 32 overlap in the folded portion 32A of the first strip electrode 32, and the dead space is reduced. In addition, each band electrode is folded to form a zigzag shape, and the number of individual electrodes is reduced compared to a configuration in which individual electrodes are sandwiched between opposing electrodes in each folded portion. The production speed is improved. Therefore, both the reduction of dead space and the improvement of production speed can be achieved by the electrode assembly of the first modified example.

  Further, according to the first modified example, since each of the first strip electrode 32 and the second strip electrode 52 and the separator are integrated, the laminating operation is facilitated and the production speed is improved. Moreover, since the electrode piece which comprises each of the 1st piece electrode 38 and the 2nd piece electrode 62 is not wrapped with the separator, the process of wrapping these electrode pieces with the separator can be omitted. Therefore, the production speed can be improved and the material cost can be reduced.

  Further, as in the second modification shown in FIG. 5, the first piece electrode 38 is formed by wrapping an electrode piece (electrode piece 40 in FIG. 3) with a bag-shaped separator 39, and the second piece electrode 62, the electrode piece may be wrapped with a bag-like separator 63. In the electrode assembly of the second modified example, the bag-like separator 39 of the first piece electrode 38 and the bag-like separator 58 of the second band electrode 52 are in contact with each other, and the bag-like separator 63 of the second piece electrode 62 is contacted. And overlap with the bag-like separator 68 of the first strip electrode 32.

  According to the second modification, the electrode strips constituting the first strip electrode 32, the second strip electrode 52, the first piece electrode 38, and the second piece electrode 62 are the bag-like separators 68, 58, 39. , 63, the fine powder of the active material layer provided on the surface of each electrode piece can be prevented from falling (powder falling).

  Further, as in the third modified example shown in FIG. 6, the second strip electrode 52 is a connected body of individual electrodes in which the electrode piece 56 is wrapped with a bag-like separator 58, and the second individual piece electrode 62 is The electrode piece may be wrapped with a bag-like separator 63. In the third modification, the electrode pieces constituting each of the first strip electrode 32 and the first piece electrode 38 are not wrapped by the separator.

  According to the third modification, the process of wrapping the electrode pieces constituting each of the first strip electrode 32 and the first piece electrode 38 with the separator can be omitted, so that the production speed can be improved and the material cost can be reduced. In particular, since the process of wrapping the electrode pieces constituting the long first strip electrode 32 with a separator can be omitted, the material cost can be effectively reduced.

  In the above embodiment, the electrode itself or the electrode wrapped in the separator including one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is generically described as an electrode body. The band electrode is an electrode body that includes one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, has a long band shape, and is bent and disposed in a stacked electrode assembly. Therefore, as described above, an electrode itself in which a continuous active material layer is formed on a long strip-shaped metal foil, or a plurality of electrode pieces are arranged at predetermined intervals between two strip-shaped separators, The separator is welded so as to surround the periphery of the electrode piece. In other cases, for example, one in which a plurality of active material layers are formed by intermittent coating on a long and strip-shaped metal foil, or one in which a long and strip-shaped separator is fixed on both surfaces of an electrode by welding. There may be. The individual electrode is an electrode body that includes one of a positive electrode and a negative electrode, has a single-wafer shape, and is disposed without being bent in the stacked electrode assembly. Specifically, the electrode piece itself or an electrode piece accommodated in an individual bag-like separator is included.

  In the above embodiment and the first to third modifications, the first electrode body includes the negative electrode 30 and the second electrode body includes the positive electrode 50. However, the first electrode body includes the positive electrode 50, The two-electrode body may include the negative electrode 30. Further, the separator 70 may be a separate body from the first strip electrode 32 and the second strip electrode 52, for example, a sheet-like separator formed separately from the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 50 is used as the negative electrode 30 and the positive electrode 50. It may be interposed between them. In this case, both the 1st strip | belt-shaped electrode 32 and the 2nd strip | belt-shaped electrode 52 may be comprised with the elongate and strip | belt-shaped metal foil. However, as described above, when the first strip electrode 32 or the second strip electrode 52 and the separator are integrated, the stacking operation is facilitated and the production rate can be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Battery cell, 10 ... Case, 20 ... Electrode assembly, 30 ... Negative electrode (1st electrode body), 32 ... 1st strip | belt-shaped electrode, 32A, 52A ... Folded part, 33, 53 ... Opposite surface, 38 ... 1st One piece electrode, 39, 58, 63, 68 ... bag-like separator, 40, 56, 66 ... electrode piece, 50 ... positive electrode (second electrode body), 52 ... second strip electrode, 62 ... second piece electrode 70 ... Separator.

Claims (6)

An electrode assembly in which a positive electrode and a negative electrode are stacked with a separator interposed therebetween,
The first electrode body including one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode has a long first strip electrode and a plurality of first individual electrodes,
The second electrode body including the other of the positive electrode and the negative electrode has a long second strip electrode and a plurality of second individual electrodes ,
The first strip electrode and the second strip electrode are folded in the longitudinal direction so as to form a folded portion that is overlapped with each other to form a zigzag folded shape,
The first piece electrode is sandwiched between opposite surfaces of the first strip electrode in the second strip electrode ,
The second piece electrode is an electrode assembly sandwiched between opposite surfaces of the second strip electrode in the first strip electrode .   The electrode assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second strip electrode is a plurality of electrode pieces wrapped with a strip separator. The first strip electrode is a plurality of electrode pieces wrapped with a strip separator,
The second strip-shaped electrode is a plurality of electrode pieces wrapped in strip-shaped separator, the electrode assembly of claim 1, wherein. The first piece electrode is formed by wrapping an electrode piece in a bag-like separator,
The electrode assembly according to claim 3 , wherein the second piece electrode is formed by wrapping an electrode piece with a bag-like separator. The second strip electrode is a plurality of electrode pieces wrapped with a strip separator,
Wherein the two piece electrodes, the electrode piece is wrapped with bag-like separator, the electrode assembly of claim 1, wherein. A battery cell in which the electrode assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is accommodated in a case.

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