DE-102025100175-A1 - POLYMER BINDER WITH A MARKING FOR USE IN ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS

Abstract

One aspect provides for an electrode material. The electrode material comprises an active material; a non-fluorinated polymeric binder that includes a detectable marker; and a conductive filler.

Inventors

• Nathaniel Hardin
• KYUNGJAE LEE
• Sanaz Ketabi

Assignees

• GM Global Technology Operations LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20250107

Priority Date

20241112

Claims (10)

1. Electrode material comprising: an active material; a non-fluorinated polymeric binder comprising a detectable marker; and a conductive filler.
2. Electrode material according to Claim 1 , wherein the non-fluorinated polymeric binder comprises a first repeating unit derived from a first monomer comprising the detectable label.
3. Electrode material according to Claim 1 , wherein the non-fluorinated polymeric binder further comprises a second repeating unit derived from one or more second monomers selected from (meth)acrylate, vinyl aromatics, vinyl ethers, vinyl ketones and vinyl esters; a crosslinkable group, a crosslinking group or a combination thereof; or a combination thereof.
4. Electrode material according to Claim 1 , wherein the detectable marker comprises fluorescein or a derivative thereof, rhodamine or a derivative thereof, acridine or a derivative thereof, coumarin or a derivative thereof, eosin or a derivative thereof, erythrosine or a derivative thereof, pyrene or a derivative thereof or a combination thereof.
5. Electrode material according to Claim 1 , wherein the non-fluorinated polymeric binder is produced by radical polymerization of: a first monomer comprising the detectable label; one or more second monomers selected from (meth)acrylate, vinyl aromatics, vinyl ethers, vinyl ketones and vinyl esters; and optionally a third monomer comprising a crosslinkable group, a crosslinking group or a combination thereof.
6. Electrochemical cell, comprising: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; and an electrolyte, wherein at least one of the positive electrodes or the negative electrodes is the electrode material according to Claim 1 includes.
7. Method for measuring the distribution of a binder in an electrode material, the method comprising: providing the electrode material according to Claim 1 ; Exposing the electrode material to activating radiation sufficient to provide a quantitative signal from the detectable label; and determining a distribution of the non-fluorinated polymeric binder according to the quantitative signal from the detectable label.
8. Procedure according to Claim 7 , furthermore encompassing the charging and discharging of an electrochemical cell comprising the electrode material, prior to the step of providing the electrode material.
9. Procedure according to Claim 7 , wherein the non-fluorinated polymeric binder comprises a first repeating unit derived from a first monomer comprising the detectable label.
10. Procedure according to Claim 7 , wherein the non-fluorinated polymeric binder further comprises a second repeating unit derived from one or more second monomers selected from (meth)acrylate, vinyl aromatics, vinyl ethers, vinyl ketones and vinyl esters; a third repeating unit comprising a crosslinkable group, a crosslinking group or a combination thereof; or a combination thereof.

Description

INTRODUCTION The present disclosure relates to battery cell technologies and in particular to polymeric binders for electrodes in electrochemical cells. High-voltage electrical systems are increasingly used to power the onboard functions of both mobile and stationary systems. In motor vehicles, for example, the growing demand for improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions has led to the development of advanced electric vehicles (EVs). Electric vehicles rely on rechargeable energy storage systems (RESSs), which typically include one or more high-voltage battery packs and an electric powertrain that transfers energy from the battery to the wheels. Battery packs can comprise any number of interconnected battery modules, depending on the energy requirements of a particular application. Each battery module comprises an array of conductively coupled electrochemical cells. The battery pack is designed to provide a direct current (DC) output voltage at a level suitable for powering a coupled electrical and/or mechanical load (e.g., an electric motor). The electrodes in a battery are one of the key components responsible for the electrochemical reactions during charging and discharging. Modern high-voltage battery packs for vehicles benefit from high-energy-density electrodes, which improve overall performance and range. However, there remains a need for fluorine-free polymeric binders and the associated ability to quantitatively determine the distribution and any migration of the polymeric binder within the electrode material during battery assembly and operation. SUMMARY One aspect involves an electrode material. The electrode material comprises an active material, a non-fluorinated polymeric binder containing a detectable marker, and a conductive filler. In another embodiment of the electrode material, the non-fluorinated polymeric binder comprises a first repeating unit derived from a first monomer that includes the detectable marker. In another embodiment of the electrode material, the non-fluorinated polymeric binder further comprises a second repeating unit derived from one or more second monomers selected from (meth)acrylate, vinyl aromatics, vinyl ethers, vinyl ketones and vinyl esters. In another embodiment of the electrode material, the non-fluorinated polymeric binder further comprises a third repeating unit comprising a crosslinkable group, a crosslinking group or a combination thereof. In another embodiment of the electrode material, the detectable marking comprises fluorescein or a derivative thereof, rhodamine or a derivative thereof, acridine or a derivative thereof, coumarin or a derivative thereof, eosin or a derivative thereof, erythrosine or a derivative thereof, pyrene or a derivative thereof, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment of the electrode material, the non-fluorinated polymeric binder is produced by radical polymerization of a first monomer comprising the detectable marker, one or more second monomers selected from (meth)acrylate, vinyl aromatics, vinyl ethers, vinyl ketones and vinyl esters; optionally a third monomer comprising a crosslinkable group, a crosslinking group or a combination thereof. In a different design of the electrode material, the electrode material excludes a fluorinated binder. Another aspect is an electrochemical cell comprising a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte. At least one of the positive electrodes or the negative electrode comprises the electrode material described herein. In another embodiment of the electrochemical cell, the non-fluorinated polymeric binder comprises a first repeating unit derived from a first monomer that includes the detectable label. In another embodiment of the electrochemical cell, the non-fluorinated polymeric binder further comprises a second repeating unit derived from one or more second monomers selected from (meth)acrylate, vinyl aromatics, vinyl ethers, vinyl ketones and vinyl esters. In another embodiment of the electrochemical cell, the non-fluorinated polymeric binder further comprises a third repeating unit, which includes a crosslinkable group, a crosslinking group or a combination thereof. In another embodiment of the electrochemical cell, the detectable labeling includes fluorescein or a derivative thereof, rhodamine or a derivative thereof, acridine or a derivative thereof, coumarin or a derivative thereof, eosin or a derivative thereof, erythrosine or a derivative thereof, pyrene or a derivative thereof, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment of the electrochemical cell, the non-fluorinated polymeric binder is produced by radical polymerization from: a first monomer comprising the detectable label; one or more second monomers selected from (meth)acrylate, vinyl aromatics, vinyl ethers, vinyl ketones and vinyl esters; and optionally a third monomer comprising a crosslinkable group, a crosslinking group or a combination thereof. In another design of the electrochemical c