DE-102025145808-A1 - Electrode cutting process and cutting system

DE102025145808A1DE 102025145808 A1DE102025145808 A1DE 102025145808A1DE-102025145808-A1

Abstract

In a process for separating an electrode, an electrode containing an electrode current collector and an electrode-active material layer, along with a counter electrode electrically connected to the electrode, are partially immersed in a conductive solution. An electrical signal is applied. Applying this electrical signal can improve the separation efficiency. Furthermore, it can improve the reuse efficiency of the electrode-active material.

Inventors

Chan Ho Kim
Hyung Joo Noh
Byoung Ki SON
Kyung Jung Kwon
Gi Gap Han
Hui Su Jeong

Assignees

INDUSTRY ACADEMY COOPERATION FOUNDATION OF SEJONG UNIVERSITY
SK ON CO., LTD.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20251106
Priority Date: 20241108

Claims (14)

Method for separating an electrode, comprising: partially immersing an electrode, which includes an electrode current collector and an electrode-active material layer, and a counter electrode, which is electrically connected to the electrode, in a conductive solution; and applying an electrical signal.
Method for separating an electrode according to Claim 1 , wherein the step of applying an electrical signal includes generating gas between the electrode current collector and the electrode-active material layer.
Method for separating an electrode according to one of the Claims 1 and 2 , wherein the step of applying an electrical signal includes applying a direct current signal.
Method for separating an electrode according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the step of applying an electrical signal includes applying an electrical signal such that the current value is in the range of 0.01 A to 8 A.
Method for separating an electrode according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , wherein the conductive solution comprises an aqueous solvent.
Method for separating an electrode according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the conductive solution comprises a transition metal.
Method for separating an electrode according to Claim 6 , wherein the transition metal comprises at least one of nickel, cobalt and manganese.
Method for separating an electrode according to one of the Claims 6 and 7 , where the transition metal includes nickel, and the molar amount of nickel, relative to the total molar amount of the transition metals, is 0.2 to 0.9.
Method for separating an electrode according to one of the Claims 6 until 8 , where the concentration of the transition metal in the conductive solution is 0.2 to 1.5 M.
Method for separating an electrode according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , whereby the electrode is moved over a movable part.
Method for separating an electrode according to Claim 10 , wherein the electrode and the counter electrode are separated by a separating element.
Method for separating an electrode according to one of the Claims 1 until 11 , wherein the electrode is obtained by heat-treating a used lithium secondary battery at 500 °C or less.
Method for separating an electrode according to one of the Claims 1 until 12 , wherein the counter electrode has an electrical conductivity of 1 S/m or more.
System for separating an electrode, comprising: an electrode part containing an electrode current collector and an electrode-active material layer; a counter electrode part electrically connected to the electrode part; a reaction part configured to partially immerse the electrode part and the counter electrode part in a conductive solution; and an electrical signal application unit configured to apply an electrical signal.

Description

[BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION] 1. Field of the invention The disclosure of the present application relates to an electrode separation method and a separation system. 2. Description of the state of the art Secondary batteries are batteries that can be repeatedly charged and discharged. With the development of the information, communication, and display industries, they have become widely used as power sources for portable electronic communication devices such as camcorders, mobile phones, and laptops. Furthermore, battery packs, including secondary batteries, have recently been developed and used as power sources for environmentally friendly vehicles, such as electric vehicles. A lithium secondary battery may contain the following: an electrode assembly comprising a cathode, an anode, and a separating membrane; and an electrolyte that impregnates the electrode assembly. The lithium secondary battery may also include an outer casing (e.g., a bag) that houses the electrode assembly and the electrolyte. A lithium metal oxide may be used as the cathode-active material of the cathode. The lithium metal oxide may contain a transition metal, such as nickel, cobalt, or manganese. Due to the production costs of the expensive precious metals described above, environmental concerns, and similar factors, electrode separation methods have been investigated. For example, the cathode current collector and the cathode-active material layer can be separated from the cathode, and metals can be recovered by acid treatment of the cathode-active material layer. Although a sodium hydroxide solution can be used to separate the cathode current collector and the cathode-active material layer, metals (e.g., aluminum) contained in the cathode current collector may remain on the surface of the cathode-active material during the separation process, and these remaining metals can act as contaminants during the recycling of the cathode-active material. [BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION] One objective of the present disclosure is to provide an electrode separation method with improved efficiency. Another objective of the present disclosure is to provide an electrode separation system with improved efficiency. In a method for separating an electrode according to embodiments of the present disclosure, an electrode comprising an electrode current collector and an electrode-active material layer, and a counter electrode electrically connected to the electrode, are partially immersed in a conductive solution. An electrical signal is applied. According to some embodiments, the step of applying an electrical signal may include generating gas between the electrode current collector and the electrode-active material layer. According to some embodiments, the step of applying an electrical signal may include applying a direct current signal. According to some embodiments, the step of applying an electrical signal can include the application of an electrical signal such that the current value is in the range of 0.01 A to 8 A. According to some embodiments, the conductive solution may contain an aqueous solvent. According to some embodiments, the conductive solution may contain a transition metal. According to some embodiments, the transition metal can contain at least one of nickel, cobalt and manganese. According to some embodiments, the transition metal may contain nickel, and the molar amount of nickel, relative to the total molar amount of the transition metals, may be 0.2 to 0.9. According to some embodiments, the concentration of the transition metal in the conductive solution can be 0.2 to 1.5 M. According to some embodiments, the electrode can be moved via a movable part. According to some embodiments, the electrode and the counter electrode can be separated by a separating element. According to some embodiments, the electrode can be obtained by heat-treating a used lithium secondary battery at 500 °C or less. According to some embodiments, the counter electrode can have an electrical conductivity of 1 S/m or more. A system for separating an electrode according to some embodiments of the present disclosure comprises: an electrode part comprising an electrode current collector and an electrode-active material layer; a counter electrode part electrically connected to the electrode part; a reaction part configured to partially immerse the electrode part and the counter electrode part in a conductive solution; and an electrical signal application unit configured to apply an electrical signal. According to the electrode separation method of the embodiments of the present disclosure, an electrode comprising an electrode current collector and an electrode-active material layer, and a counter electrode electrically connected to the electrode, are partially immersed in a conductive solution, and an electrical signal is applied to them. This enables the electrode to be separated quickly and with high energy efficiency. In some embodiments, a direct cur