Modeling and Optimizing the Drying Process of Electrode Manufacturing for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Drying the electrode is a crucial process in the manufacture of lithium-ion batteries, which significantly affects the mechanical performance and cycle life of electrodes. High drying rate increases the battery production but reduces the uniformity of the binder in the electrode, which causes the detaching of the electrode from the collector. Herein, a physical model that couples solvent evaporation and binder diffusion is established to study the uneven enrichment of binder during the drying process. The results indicate that the drying process at the high solvent partial pressure and in a temperature-drop situation ensures sufficient time for the diffusion of binder, which breaks the trade-off between drying efficiency and electrode quality. Based on a comprehensive correlation analysis between process parameters and drying performance, an empirical equation is established to predict binder distribution. This work could offer insights into the formation and evolution of binder enrichment in electrodes and potentially provide guidelines for optimizing the drying processes of electrode.