SEPARATOR COMPRISING FORCE-LOCKED PARTICLES

Abstract

A separator for an electrochemical cell, in particular a lithium cell, and a corresponding manufacturing method. In order to provide a separator having an elevated dendrite resistance, in particular ion-conducting, particles are introduced into pores of a polymer layer and frictionally retained between polymer walls delimiting pores. An electrochemical cell equipped therewith is also described.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A separator for an electrochemical cell, comprising: a porous polymer layer; and ion-conducting particles made of an impervious material, the polymer layer having at least one of continuous pores and continuous pore networks; wherein pores of the polymer layer are delimited by polymer walls, the particles being introduced into the pores of the polymer layer and frictionally retained between the polymer walls delimiting the pores.

17. The separator as recited in claim 16, wherein the electrochemical cell is a lithium cell.

18. The separator as recited in claim 16, wherein the particles are one of: metal ion-conducting, proton-conducting, anion-conducting, or lithium ion-conducting.

19. The separator as recited in claim 16, wherein the particles are inorganic particles.

20. The separator as recited in claim 16, wherein the particles are organic particles.

21. The separator as recited in claim 16, wherein at least one of: i) an average wall thickness of the polymer walls is less than an average particle size of the particles (14), and ii) the particles having an average particle size which is greater than the average pore size of the polymer layer in an unelongated state.

22. The separator as recited in claim 16, wherein particles are introduced at least into pores that are disposed on an anode side in the operating state of the separator.

23. The separator as recited in claim 16, wherein particles are introduced into pores that are disposed on a cathode side in the operating state of the separator.

24. A method for manufacturing a separator for an electrochemical cell, comprising: elongating a porous polymer layer having at least one of continuous pores and continuous pore networks; introducing particles into pores of the polymer layer on at least one side of the polymer layer in the elongated state; and relaxing the polymer layer.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the electrochemical cell is a lithium cell.

26. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the particles are ion-conducting.

27. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the particles are constituted from an impervious material.

28. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the particles are constituted from a porous material.

29. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the particles are one of metal ion-conducting, proton-conducting, anion-conducting, or lithium ion-conducting.

30. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the particles are inorganic particles.

31. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the particles are organic particles.

32. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the particles have an average particle size which is greater than an average pore size of the polymer layer in the unelongated state and less than or equal to the average pore size of the polymer layer in the elongated state.

33. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein the pores of the polymer layer are delimited by polymer walls, an average wall thickness of the polymer walls in the unelongated state of the polymer layer being less than the average particle size of the particles.

34. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein in the elongating step, the polymer layer is elongated in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction, the polymer layer being elongated ≧20%.

35. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein in the introducing step, particles are introduced at least into that side of the polymer layer which faces toward the anode in the operating state of the cell.

36. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein in the introducing step, particles are introduced into both sides of the elongated polymer layer.

37. The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising: after the relaxing step, heating the polymer layer to a temperature that is greater than or equal to at least one of: i) a melting temperature of a material of the polymer layer, and ii) a softening temperature of the material of the polymer layer.

38. An electrochemical cell, including a separator for an electrochemical cell, the separator comprising: a porous polymer layer; and ion-conducting particles made of an impervious material, the polymer layer having at least one of continuous pores and continuous pore networks; wherein pores of the polymer layer are delimited by polymer walls, the particles being introduced into the pores of the polymer layer and frictionally retained between the polymer walls delimiting the pores.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0080] Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the present invention are shown in the figures and explained in the description below. Be it noted in this context that the Figures are merely descriptive in nature and are not intended to limit the present invention in any form.

[0081] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross section through an unelongated, porous polymer layer.

[0082] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross section through the porous polymer layer shown in FIG. 1, in the elongated state in method step a).

[0083] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross section through the elongated porous polymer layer shown in FIG. 2, after the introduction of ion-conducting particles in method step b).

[0084] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross section through the porous polymer layer shown in FIG. 3, after relaxation in method step c).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

[0085] FIG. 1 illustrates an elastic porous polymer layer 11, usable in the context of an embodiment of the method according to the present invention, having continuous pores 12, in the unelongated state. FIG. 1 illustrates that pores 12 are delimited by polymer walls 13 and are spaced apart from one another. FIG. 1 further illustrates that in the unelongated state of polymer layer 11, pores 12 have an average pore size (d.sub.Po1) and polymer walls 13 have an average wall thickness (d.sub.w).

[0086] FIG. 2 shows polymer layer 11 shown in FIG. 1 after it has been elongated or stretched in a method step a). FIG. 1 indicates that in method step a), polymer layer 11 can be elongated, for instance in a longitudinal direction and/or in a transverse direction, for example approximately 100% with reference respectively to its longitudinal dimension or transverse direction. FIG. 2 illustrates that the average pore size (d.sub.Po2) of pores 12 has been enlarged by the elongation of polymer layer 11.

[0087] FIG. 3 shows polymer layer 11 shown in FIG. 2, in the elongated state after ion-conducting particles 12 have been introduced in a method step b) into pores 12 thereof. Introduction of the ion-conducting particles 14 into pores 12 can be accomplished, for example, by the fact that a powder is applied onto at least one side of polymer layer 11 in the elongated state. FIG. 3 shows that particles 14 penetrate in this context into pores 12 that have been enlarged by the elongation of polymer layer 11. If applicable, particles 14 can additionally be pressed into pores 12, for example by way of a rolling and/or roller apparatus. FIG. 3 further illustrates that particles 14 have an average particle size (d.sub.Pa), which (d.sub.Pa) is less than or equal to the average pore size (d.sub.Po2) of polymer layer 11 in the elongated state and in particular is greater than the average pore size (d.sub.Po1), shown in FIG. 1, of polymer layer 11 in the unelongated state.

[0088] FIG. 4 shows polymer layer 11 shown in FIG. 3 after relaxation thereof 11 in a method step c). FIG. 4 illustrates that upon relaxation of polymer layer 11, the average pore size of pores 12 shrinks again, the result of the relaxing polymer layer 11 being that a force F, for instance a compressive stress or an elongation recovery force or relaxation force of polymer layer 11, is applied onto the introduced or incorporated particles 14, by way of which force particles 14 are frictionally retained between polymer walls 13 and thereby fastened in polymer layer 11. FIG. 4 furthermore illustrates that the average wall thickness (d.sub.w) of polymer walls 13 in the unelongated or relaxed state of polymer layer 11 is less than the average particle size (d.sub.Pa) of particles 14.