CURING DIE FOR MANUFACTURING GEL POLYMER ELECTROLYTE, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING GEL POLYMER BATTERY CELL BY USING SAME

Abstract

The present invention provides a curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte, and a method for manufacturing a gel polymer battery cell by using the same, the curing die comprising: a first die having a recessed part, which is formed inside a battery case and has a processing battery cell mounted therein and including an electrode assembly and a composition for forming the gel polymer electrolyte; and a second die coupled to the first die so as to seal the processing battery cell mounted in the recessed part.

Claims

1. A curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte, comprising: a first die including a recessed part in which a processing battery cell including an electrode assembly and a composition for forming a gel polymer electrolyte inside a battery case is mounted; and a second die coupled to the first die so as to close the processing battery cell mounted in the recessed part.

2. The curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein: at least one of the first die and the second die is partly or entirely formed of a heat conductive material.

3. The curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein: the recessed part of the first die is partly or entirely formed of a heat conductive material.

4. The curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein: a portion of the second die that faces the recessed part of the first die is partly or entirely formed of a heat conductive material.

5. The curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte of claim 2, wherein: at least one of the first die and the second die includes a heating wire connected to a temperature controller.

6. The curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein: the first die and the second die each include die terminals formed of a conductive material at positions in contact with electrode terminals of the processing battery cell, and the die terminals are connected to an external charge and discharge device.

7. The curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte of claim 6, wherein: the die terminals formed on the first die and the die terminals formed on the second die are formed at corresponding positions so that the first die and the second die are in contact with each other at the same polarity when the first die and the second die are coupled.

8. The curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte of claim 6, wherein: the die terminals include a (+) die terminal in contact with a cathode terminal of the processing battery cell and a () die terminal in contact with an anode terminal of the processing battery cell.

9. The curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte of claim 8, wherein: in the first die, the (+) die terminal and the () die terminal are independently formed on an outer surface of one side end part of the recessed part.

10. The curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte of claim 8, wherein: in the first die, the (+) die terminal and the () die terminal are formed on the outer surface of one side end part of the recessed part and on an outer surface of the other side end part opposite to the outer surface of the one side end part, respectively.

11. The curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein: the second die includes as an additional recessed part formed at a position corresponding to the recessed part of the first die.

12. The curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein: the second die has a flat structure without the recessed part.

13. The curing die for manufacturing a gel polymer electrolyte of claim 1, wherein: the one side end parts of the first die and the second die are interconnected by a hinge.

14. A method for manufacturing a gel polymer battery cell using the curing die of claim 1, comprising: (i) preparing a processing battery cell including an electrode assembly and a composition for forming a gel polymer electrolyte inside a battery case; (ii) mounting the processing battery cell in a recessed part of the curing die and closing the processing battery cell; (iii) controlling the curing die to thereby gel the composition for forming a gel polymer electrolyte in the battery case by a cross-linking reaction;

15. The method of claim 14, wherein: in step (iii), the curing die mounted with the processing battery cell is placed in an oven and a temperature in the oven is controlled, or a current is applied to a heating wire of the curing die, thereby heating the die to gel the composition for forming a gel polymer electrolyte.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein: a temperature for the cross-linking reaction is 30 to 100 degrees Celsius.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: (iv) connecting die terminals of the curing die to a charge and discharge device to perform an activation process of the processing battery cell;

18. The method of claim 14, wherein: the processing battery cell in the step (i) includes an unsealed part at one side portion.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein: the unsealed part of the processing battery cell is extended from a side surface of a battery cell body where electrode terminals are not formed, and maintains a sealed state by a first die and a second die outside of the recessed part.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein: the composition for forming a gel polymer electrolyte includes an electrolytic solution solvent, a lithium salt, a reactive monomer or oligomer, and an initiator.

21. A gel polymer battery cell manufactured by the method of claim 14.

22. A battery pack comprising one or more of the gel polymer battery cells of claim 21 as unit cells.

23. A device comprising the battery pack of claim 22.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0082] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a curing die according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0083] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a curing die according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0084] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a curing die according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0085] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a curing die according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0086] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a curing die according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0087] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a curing die according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0088] FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a curing die according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0089] FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing one step of a manufacturing process for proceeding a cross-linking reaction using a curing die according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0090] FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a state in which a first die and a second die are coupled in a state where a processing battery cell is mounted in the curing die in FIG. 8;

[0091] FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing one process of the manufacturing process for proceeding a cross-linking reaction and an activation process using the curing die according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0092] FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing a state in which the processing battery cell is mounted in the curing die in FIG. 10;

[0093] FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a state in which the first die and the second die are coupled in FIG. 11.

MODE FOR INVENTION

[0094] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0095] FIGS. 1 to 7 schematically show curing dies 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 700 according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0096] First, referring to FIGS. 1 to 7 together, the curing dies 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 according to the present invention may include first dies 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, and 910 including recessed parts 111, 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, and 711 in which processing battery cells including an electrode assembly and a composition for forming a gel polymer electrolyte inside a battery case are mounted; and second dies 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, and 920 coupled to the first dies 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, and 910 so as to dose the processing battery cells mounted in the recessed parts 111, 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, and 711. One side end parts of the first dies 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610, 710, 810, and 910 and the second dies 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620, 720, 820, and 920 may be interconnected by hinges 130, 230, 330, 430, 530, 630, 730, 830, and 930. Further, the curing dies 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, and 700 according to the present invention may include portions formed of a heat conductive material to transfer heat to the composition so that an initiator reaches a temperature sufficient to initiate a reaction for the cross-linking reaction of the composition for forming a gel polymer electrolyte in the processing battery cell mounted therein. Here, portions of the heat conductive material in the drawings are colored and non-colored portions are shown as white (or translucent white).

[0097] Hereinafter, difference will be described for each of drawings. Referring to FIG. 1, the curing die 100 may include a first die 110 in which a recessed part 111 mounted with a processing battery cell is formed and a second die 120 having a flat structure without the recessed part that is connected to the first die 110 by a hinge 130, wherein a peripheral portion of a portion that abuts the electrode terminal of the processing battery cell, that is, outer surface entire portions 115 and 125 based on the both side end parts of the recessed part in the direction in which the electrode terminals of the processing battery cell protrude may be formed of a heat resistant material such as plastic, or the like, and the other portion may be formed entirely of a heat conductive material.

[0098] Referring to FIG. 2, which is the same as in FIG. 1, the curing die 200 includes a first die 210 in which a recessed part 211 mounted with a battery cell is formed and a second die 220 having a flat structure without the recessed part that is connected to the first die 210 by a hinge 230. Meanwhile, in the curing die, a peripheral portion of a portion that abuts the electrode terminal of the processing battery cell, that is, portions of outer surfaces 215 and 225 based on the both side end parts of the recessed part in the direction in which the electrode terminals of the processing battery cell protrude may be formed of a heat resistant material such as plastic, or the like, and the other portion may be formed entirely of a heat conductive material.

[0099] Meanwhile, further, the first die 210 and the second die 211 in the curing die 200 of FIG. 2 include, respectively, heat wires 212 and 222 therein so as to perform its own heating. Here, the heating wires 212 and 222 may be formed more tightly in the vicinity of the recessed part 211, which is a portion where the processing battery cell is mounted, like the heating wire 212 of the first die 210, etc., that is, may be appropriately distributed in view of efficiency, and may be uniformly distributed, like the heating wire 222 of the second die 220.

[0100] Referring to FIG. 3, which is the same as in FIGS. 1 and 2, the curing die 300 may have a structure including a first die 310 in which a recessed part 311 mounted with a battery cell is formed and a second die 320 having a flat structure without the recessed part that is connected to the first die 310 by a hinge 330. However, an entire of the recessed part 311 of the first die 310, and only a portion 321 of the second die 320 that faces thereto may be formed of a heat conductive material at corresponding areas. The first die 310 and the second die 320 may include heating wires 312 and 322 in the recessed part 311 formed of the heat conductive material and in the portion 321 facing thereto, respectively, so as to perform its own heating of the curing die 300.

[0101] When the first die 310 and the second die 320 substantially include the heating wires 312 and 322, only the portion at which the processing battery cell is mounted is efficiently heat transferred, and thus, in consideration of manufacturing cost aspect, or the like, only the recessed part 311 and the portion 321 facing the recessed part 311 may be formed of a heat conductive material and the heating wires 312 and 322 may be distributed only to the corresponding portions as shown in FIG. 3. Naturally, the heating wire may be entirely distributed, and its position may vary, and is not limited to drawings.

[0102] Referring to FIG. 4, which is the same as in FIGS. 1 to 3, the curing die 400 may have a structure including a first die 410 in which a recessed part 411 mounted with a battery cell is formed and a second die 420 having a flat structure without the recessed part that is connected to the first die 410 by the hinge 430. However, only a portion 411(a) in the recessed part 411 of the first die 410, and a portion 421 of the second die 420 that faces the recessed part 411 may be formed of a heat conductive material at corresponding areas (that is, the recessed part 411 of the first die 410 may have a structure including a portion 411(a) formed of the heat conductive material and a portion 411(b) which is not formed of the heat conductive material). Here, FIG. 4 shows a structure in which the portion 411(a) formed of the heat conductive material and the portion 411(b) which is not formed of the heat conductive material are alternately arranged in a strip shape, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and these portions may have various shapes such as circular, diagonal, lattice shapes, etc.

[0103] Further, since the curing die 400 includes the heat conductive material only in the recessed part 411 and the portion 421 facing thereto which is the same as in FIG. 3, the first die 410 and the second die 420 of the curing die 400 may also include heating wires 412 and 422 at the recessed part 411 formed of the heat conductive material and the portion 421 facing thereto, respectively.

[0104] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 together, which are the same as in FIG. 2, the curing dies 500 and 600 may include first dies 510 and 610 in which recessed parts 511 and 611 mounted with battery cells are formed and second dies 520 and 620 each having a flat structure without the recessed part that is connected to the first dies 510 and 610 by the hinges 530 and 630, respectively, wherein a peripheral portion of a portion that abuts the electrode terminal of the processing battery cell, that is, portions of outer surfaces 515, 525, 615, and 625 based on the both side end parts of the recessed part in the direction in which the electrode terminals of the processing battery cell protrude may be formed of a heat resistant material such as plastic, or the like, and the other portion may be formed entirely of a heat conductive material. The first dies 510 and 610 and the second dies 511 and 611 include first and second heating wires 512, 522, 612, and 622 therein, respectively, so as to be heated by themselves.

[0105] Meanwhile, the curing dies 500 and 600 further include the die terminals 513, 514, 523, 524, 613, 614, 623, and 624 of the conductive material in contact with the electrode terminals of the processing battery cell so that the process is simplified by performing the cross-linking reaction for manufacturing the gel polymer electrolyte and continuously performing the activation process.

[0106] Here, the die terminals 513, 514, 523, 524, 613, 614, 623 and 624 are formed at positions in contact with the electrode terminals of the processing battery cell mounted with the first dies 510 and 610 and the second dies 520 and 620.

[0107] Accordingly, the die terminals 513, 514, 523, 524, 613, 614, 623, and 624 include (+) die terminals 513, 523, 613, and 623 in contact with the cathode terminals of the processing battery cell, and () die terminals 514, 524, 614, and 624 in contact with the anode terminals of the processing battery cell, respectively, so as to contact the electrode terminals of the processing battery cell to thereby perform the charge and discharge process.

[0108] For this reason, at the positions of the die terminals, structures of the curing dies 500, 600 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are provided. Specifically, formation positions of the (+) die terminals 513, 523, 613, and 623 and the () die terminals 514, 524, 614, and 624 depend on a positional relationship with the electrode terminals of the processing battery cell to be mounted.

[0109] First, referring to FIG. 5, in order to apply a bidirectional battery cell in which the electrode terminals of the battery cell protrude in different directions at one side end part and the other side end part of the battery cell, the curing die 500 may have a structure in which in the first die 510, the (+) die terminal 513 and the () die terminal 513 may be formed on the outer surface of one side end part and on an outer surface of the other side end part opposite to the outer surface of the one side end part in the recessed part 511, respectively, and in the second die 520, the (+) die terminal 523 and the () die terminal 524 are formed, respectively, at corresponding positions so that the first die 510 and the second die 520 are in contact with each other at the same polarity when the first die 510 and the second die 520 are coupled.

[0110] On the other hand, referring to FIG. 6, in order to apply the unidirectional battery cell in which the electrode terminals of the battery cell protrude in the same direction, the curing die 600 may have a structure in which in the first die 610, both the (+) die terminal 613 and the () die terminal 614 are independently formed on an outer surface of one side end part of the recessed part, and in the second die 620, the (+) die terminal 623 and the () die terminal 624 are formed, respectively, at corresponding positions so that the first die and the second die are in contact with each other at the same polarity when the first die 610 and the second die 620 are coupled.

[0111] Lastly, referring to FIG. 7, similar to FIG. 6, the curing die 700 includes a first die 710 in which a recessed part 711 mounted with the battery cell is formed and a second die 720 connected to the first die 710 by a hinge 730, wherein a peripheral portion of a portion that abuts the electrode terminal of the processing battery cell, that is, portions of outer surfaces 715 and 725 based on the both side end parts of the recessed part in the direction in which the electrode terminals of the processing battery cell protrude may be formed of a heat resistant material such as plastic, or the like, and the other portion may be formed entirely of a heat conductive material. The first die 710 and the second die 711 include first and second heating wires 712 and 722 therein, respectively, so as to be heated by themselves. Further, in order that the activation process is able to be performed after the cross-linking reaction of the gel polymer electrolyte, in the first die 710, both the (+) die terminal 713 and () die terminal 714 are formed, independently, on the outer surface of one side end part of the recessed part, and in the second die 720, the (+) die terminal 723 and () die terminal 724 are formed, respectively, at corresponding positions so that the first die 710 and the second die 720 are in contact with each other at the same polarity when the first die 710 and the second die 720 are coupled.

[0112] Meanwhile, unlike FIG. 6, the second die 720 of the curing die 700 may have a structure in which an additional recessed part is formed at a position corresponding to the recessed part of the first die, which is the same as the first die.

[0113] Although FIGS. 1 to 7 schematically show the curing dies according to Examples of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to such a structure, and various modifications may be made within a similar range.

[0114] FIGS. 8 to 12 schematically show methods for manufacturing the gel polymer battery cells using the curing dies 100, 500 and 600 according to Examples of the present invention.

[0115] First, FIGS. 8 and 9 schematically show a method using the curing die 100 of the present invention.

[0116] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9 together, a processing battery cell 140 in which an electrode assembly and a composition for forming a gel polymer electrolyte are included inside a battery case and electrode terminals 141 and 142 protrude in different directions from one side end part and the other side end part of the battery cell is prepared, the processing battery cell 140 is mounted in the recessed part 111 of the first die 110, and the second die 120 connected to the first die 110 by the hinge 130 is turned upside down, closed, and coupled to the first die 110, thereby closing the processing battery cell 140 as shown in FIG. 9. The curing die 100 does not include a heating wire therein, and thus, is not able to perform its own heating. Thus, the curing die 100 in which the processing battery cell 140 is closed may be placed in the oven, and a temperature in the oven may be controlled to gel the composition for forming a gel polymer electrolyte by the cross-linking reaction, thereby manufacturing the battery cell.

[0117] On the other hand, FIGS. 10 to 12 schematically show the method for manufacturing a gel polymer battery cell using the curing die 500 that includes the heating wire enabling its own heating of the curing die and the die terminals enabling the activation process which is performed continuously after manufacturing the gel polymer electrolyte.

[0118] First, referring to 10 to 12 together, which are the same as explained in FIG. 8, a processing battery cell 540 in which electrode terminals 541 and 542 protrude in different directions from one side end part and the other side end part of the battery cell is firstly prepared. In the recessed part 511 of the first die 510, the cathode terminal 541 of the processing battery cell 540 is mounted to be in contact with the (+) die terminal 513 of the first die 510 and the anode terminal 542 of the processing battery cell 540 is mounted to be in contact with the () die terminal 514 of the first die 510. Here, the unsealed part 543 extending from the side surface of the battery cell body in which the electrode terminals are not formed in the processing battery cell 540 is placed outwardly of the recessed part 511.

[0119] Then, the second die 520 connected to the first die 510 by the hinge 530 is turned upside down and closed so that the (+) die terminal 523 of the second die is in contact with the cathode terminal 541 of the processing battery cell 540 and the () die terminal 524 of the second die is in contact with the anode terminal 542 of the processing battery cell 540, and then, is coupled to the first die 510, thereby closing the processing battery cell 140 as shown in FIG. 12.

[0120] As described above, when the unsealed part 543 of the processing battery cell 540 is placed outside the recessed part 511 of the first die 510 and the first die 510 is coupled to the second die 520, the unsealed part 543 may maintain the sealed state by the first die 510 and the second die 520, and thus, it is possible to prevent the composition for forming a gel polymer electrolyte from flowing out to the unsealed part from the accommodating part of the battery case including the electrode assembly embedded, thereby solving the problem that the sealing strength is weakened at the time of resealing.

[0121] Next, the temperature controller for flowing a current to the heating wires 512 and 522 of the first die and the second die of the curing die 500 in which the processing battery cell 540 is closed may be connected to the curing die, and the curing die may be heated from 30 to 100 degrees Celsius to gel the composition for forming a gel polymer electrolyte. When the gel polymer electrolyte is formed, the charge and discharge device may be connected to the die terminals 513, 514, 523, and 524 of the first die 510 and the second die 520 to perform the activation process.

[0122] When the curing die according to the present invention is used as described above, since the cross-linking reaction of the composition for forming a gel polymer electrolyte is generated in a fixed frame, it is possible to manufacture the gel polymer battery cell having a uniform appearance, and further, to perform even the activation process continuously, thereby simplifying the process.

[0123] Specific connection of the heating wire and the temperature controller, or specific connection of the die terminals and the external charge and discharge device is not shown in FIGS. 10 to 12. However, these constitutions are easily known from the known art by those skilled in the art, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0124] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and change can be made without departing from the spirits and scope of the appended claims of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0125] As described above, the curing die according to the present invention may have a structure in which the processing battery cell including the composition for forming a gel polymer electrolyte is able to be mounted in the curing die, and thus the composition may be uniformly distributed in the battery case at the cross-linking reaction, thereby making possible to manufacture the gel polymer battery cell having a uniform appearance. Further, since the composition may be prevented from flowing out to the unsealed portion of the battery case, the electrolytic solution may not be cured in the unsealed portion, and thus it is possible to solve the problem that the sealing strength is weakened at the time of resealing.

[0126] Further, the curing die according to the present invention may include the heating wire in the curing die itself, thereby performing its own heating. Thus, the composition may be gelated more simply without the need of storing in the oven separately.

[0127] Further, since the curing die according to the present invention includes the die terminals contacting with the electrode terminals of the processing battery cell in the curing die itself, the activation process may be performed together with the charge and discharge process, thereby simplifying the process.