Representative embodiments provide a liquid or gel separator utilized to separate and space apart first and second conductors or electrodes of an energy storage device, such as a battery or a supercapacitor. A representative liquid or gel separator comprises a plurality of particles, typically having a size (in any dimension) between about 0.5 to about 50 microns; a first, ionic liquid electrolyte; and a polymer. In another representative embodiment, the plurality of particles comprise diatoms, diatomaceous frustules, and/or diatomaceous fragments or remains. Another representative embodiment further comprises a second electrolyte different from the first electrolyte; the plurality of particles are comprised of silicate glass; the first and second electrolytes comprise zinc tetrafluoroborate salt in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidalzolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid; and the polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol (“PVA”) or polyvinylidene fluoride (“PVFD”). Additional components, such as additional electrolytes and solvents, may also be included.

A separator for a non-aqueous secondary battery contains: a porous substrate and a heat-resistant porous layer that is provided on one side or on both sides of the porous substrate, and that contains a resin and inorganic particles, in which (A) the resin contains a copolymer having a vinylidene fluoride unit and a hexafluoropropylene unit satisfying particular requirements, a content of the inorganic particles in the heat-resistant porous layer is from 50% by mass to 90% by mass, and the inorganic particles contain first inorganic particles and second inorganic particles satisfying particular size requirements, or (B) a content of the inorganic particles in the heat-resistant porous layer is from 50% by mass to 90% by mass, and the inorganic particles contain first inorganic particles that are metal sulfate (or metal hydroxide) particles and second inorganic particles that are inorganic particles other than metal sulfate (or metal hydroxide) particles.

A method and apparatus for manufacturing a separator, and a separator obtained thereby. The method for manufacturing a separator includes applying a solvent for pore impregnation onto a first surface of a porous polymer substrate, before applying slurry for forming a first porous coating layer and a second porous coating layer. In this manner, it is possible to provide a separator which has a small deviation in physical properties between the porous coating layers on the first surface and the second surface of the porous polymer substrate.

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing a separator, and a separator obtained thereby. The method for manufacturing a separator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes applying a solvent for pore impregnation onto a porous polymer substrate, before applying slurry for forming a porous coating layer thereto. In this manner, it is possible to provide a separator which shows a small deviation in physical properties between the porous coating layers formed on the top surface and the back surface of the porous polymer substrate.

A unit cell including a thermochromic polymer and a defect detection method using the same are disclosed. Preferably, the unit cell includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and a separator disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein the separator includes a thermochromic polymer configured such that the color of the thermochromic polymer changes depending on temperature, whereby the unit cell is easily checked to indicate a short circuit, as well as damage to or defects of the separator.

Provided are a separator and a method for producing the same, and more particularly, a separator which may secure battery stability and has characteristics of significantly low heat shrinkage even at a high temperature and minimally increased resistance, and a method for producing the same. The separator according to the present disclosure includes: a porous substrate; and an inorganic particle layer positioned on one or both surfaces of the porous substrate, wherein the inorganic particle layer includes inorganic particles and a sheet-shaped inorganic binder.

Provided are a separator and a method for producing the same, and more particularly, a separator which may secure battery stability and has characteristics of significantly low heat shrinkage even at a high temperature and minimally increased resistance, and a method for producing the same.

The separator according to the present disclosure includes: a porous substrate; and an inorganic particle layer positioned on one or both surfaces of the porous substrate, wherein the inorganic particle layer includes inorganic particles and a rod-shaped inorganic binder.

In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to one exemplary embodiment, a separator includes a substrate, a first filler layer containing phosphate particles and formed on at least one surface of the substrate, and a second filler layer containing inorganic particles and formed on a surface of the first filler layer on the side of the at least one surface of the substrate. The phosphate particles have a BET specific surface area of 5 m.sup.2/g or more and 100 m.sup.2/g or less.

In a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to one exemplary embodiment, a separator includes a substrate, a first filler layer containing phosphate particles and formed on at least one surface of the substrate, and a second filler layer containing inorganic particles and formed on a surface of the first filler layer on the side of the at least one surface of the substrate. The phosphate particles have a BET specific surface area of 5 m.sup.2/g or more and 100 m.sup.2/g or less.

A separator including a porous substrate layer, an intermediate layer, and a ceramic coating layer is provided. The ceramic coating layer is disposed on a side of the intermediate layer away from the porous substrate layer. The intermediate layer includes a metal oxide powder. The particle diameter of the metal oxide powder is less than the pore diameter of the porous substrate layer, and at least a portion of the metal oxide powder is embedded in the porous substrate layer. A method of preparing the separator and a lithium-ion battery including the separator are also provided.

A liquid composition includes particles and a solvent, wherein a contact angle of the liquid composition with respect to a substrate is greater than a contact angle of the solvent with respect to the substrate, and the contact angle of the substrate with respect to water observed 9 seconds after the substrate comes into contact with the water is 45 degrees to 75 degrees.