Solid-state electrolyte slurry mixing and coating
AssigneeA123 Systems, Inc.
InventorsEthan Boeding, John Flynn, David Laughman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods are disclosed herein for preparing a smooth solid electrolyte slurry and coating the slurry onto a substrate to form a separator of a solid-state battery. In one example, the method includes combining solid electrolyte, solvent, and a binder solution to form a slurry, followed by mixing the slurry to form a smooth slurry. Mixing the slurry includes a combination of mixing under non-vacuum conditions, mixing under vacuum conditions, and milling under vacuum and/or non-vacuum conditions.
Claims20
A method of preparing a solid state battery separator, comprising:
- pre-mixing a first portion of a solid electrolyte and a solvent to form a mixture;
- first mixing a binder solution, a second portion of the solid electrolyte, and the mixture under non-vacuum conditions to form a slurry;
- second mixing the slurry under vacuum conditions to form a mixed slurry;
- alternating milling and second mixing the mixed slurry to form a smooth slurry with particles smaller than a threshold particle size;
- coating a substrate with the smooth slurry to produce a coated substrate;
- and
- drying the coated substrate.
A method of preparing a casted separator, comprising:
- combining a solid electrolyte, a solvent, and a binder solution to form a slurry;
- mixing the slurry to form a smooth slurry, wherein mixing the slurry includes second mixing under vacuum conditions, followed by basket milling under vacuum and/or non-vacuum conditions;
- coating the smooth slurry onto a substrate to form a coated substrate;
- and
- drying the coated substrate to form the casted separator.
A method of mixing a slurry for a solid state battery separator, comprising:
- first mixing a solvent, a solid electrolyte, and a binder solution under non-vacuum conditions to form a slurry;
- second mixing the slurry under vacuum conditions to form a mixed slurry;
- basket milling the mixed slurry under non-vacuum conditions to form a milled slurry;
- if the largest particle size of the milled slurry is not less than a threshold particle size, repeatedly second mixing the milled slurry under vacuum conditions followed by basket milling the milled slurry under non-vacuum conditions until the largest particle size of the milled slurry is less than the threshold particle size;
- and
- third mixing the milled slurry under vacuum conditions to form a smooth slurry with a viscosity below a threshold viscosity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.