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WO-2026092798-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING BATTERY CELL ELECTRODES

WO2026092798A1WO 2026092798 A1WO2026092798 A1WO 2026092798A1WO-2026092798-A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (100) for producing battery cell electrodes, comprising: a first roller arrangement (110) which is set up to calender an electrode web (EB); a heating arrangement (120) which is set up to heat the electrode web (EB) after the calendering; and a second roller arrangement (130) which has at least one second roller (132), wherein the at least one second roller (132) comprises at least one first roller region having a first roller diameter (D1) and at least one second roller region having a second roller diameter (D2), the second roller diameter (D2) being greater than the first roller diameter (D1), and wherein the at least one first roller region corresponds to a first web region (B1) of the electrode web (EB) and the at least one second roller region corresponds to a second web region (B2) of the electrode web (EB), the first web region (B1) and the second web region (B2) having different coatings and/or a different material composition.

Inventors

  • ALBRECHT, FLORIAN
  • TENHAEFF, KATJA
  • SCHUESSLER, MICHAEL
  • PRITZL, Daniel

Assignees

  • BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251001
Priority Date
20241104

Claims (10)

  1. 1. Manufacturing system (100) for battery cell electrodes, comprising: a first roller arrangement (110) configured to calender an electrode web (EB); a heating arrangement (120) configured to heat the electrode web (EB) after calendering; and a second roller arrangement (130) with at least one second roller (132), wherein the at least one second roller (132) comprises at least one first roller area with a first roller diameter (Dl) and at least one second roller area with a second roller diameter (D2), wherein the second roller diameter (D2) is larger than the first roller diameter (Dl), and wherein the at least one first roller area corresponds to a first web area (Bl) of the electrode web (EB) and the at least one second roller area corresponds to a second web area (B2) of the electrode web (EB), wherein the first web area (Bl) and the second web area (B2) have different coatings and/or different material properties.
  2. 2. Manufacturing system (100) according to claim 1, further comprising a web tension adjustment mechanism configured to adjust a web tension (BZ) of the electrode web (EB) on the second roller arrangement (130), in particular wherein the web tension adjustment mechanism is configured to adjust the web tension (BZ) of the electrode web (EB) in a range between 0.1 and 1.5 N/mm web width.
  3. 3. Manufacturing system (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heating arrangement (120) comprises: at least one first heating device (122A) and at least one second heating device (122B) arranged on opposite sides of the electrode track (EB); and/or at least one infrared heating device; and/or at least one induction heating device; and/or 24-1475 at least one gas heating appliance.
  4. 4. Manufacturing system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the heating arrangement (120) is configured to: heat a surface of the electrode path (EB) to a temperature of 80°C or more; and/or heat the electrode path (EB) for a heating duration of 0.5s or more; and/or heat the electrode path (EB) with an infrared wavelength in a range between 1 and 5pm.
  5. 5. Manufacturing system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first web area (Bl) of the electrode web (EB) corresponds to an area with an electrode coating .
  6. 6. Manufacturing system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: the second track region (B2) of the electrode track (EB) corresponds to a region without electrode coating; and/or the second track region (B2) of the electrode track (EB) corresponds to a region with a current collector.
  7. 7. Manufacturing system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: the at least one second roller (132) has a base body with a constant diameter (D1), and wherein the at least one second roller area with the second roller diameter (D2) is provided by an application material (134) applied to the base body, in particular wherein the application material (134) comprises or is an adhesive tape; or the at least one second roller comprises or is a segmented roller.
  8. 8. Manufacturing system (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a difference between the second roller diameter (D2) and the first roller diameter (D1) 24-1475 is a multiple of a coating thickness of an electrode coating (AMI, AM2) of the electrode path (EB), especially in the first path region (Bl) of the electrode path (EB).
  9. 9. Manufacturing system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the manufacturing system (100) comprises or is a roll-to-roll system.
  10. 10. Manufacturing process (400) for electrodes of battery cells, comprising: Calendering (410) of an electrode web (EB) by a first roller arrangement (HO); Heating (420) of the calendered electrode path (EB) by a heating arrangement (120); and Processing (430) the calendered electrode web (EB) before or after heating by at least one second roller (132) of a second roller arrangement, wherein the at least one second roller (132) comprises at least one first roller section with a first roller diameter (D1) and at least one second roller section with a second roller diameter (D2), wherein the second roller diameter (D2) is larger than the first roller diameter (D1), and wherein the at least one first roller section corresponds to a first web section (Bl) of the electrode web (EB) and the at least one second roller section corresponds to a second web section (B2) of the electrode web (EB), wherein the first web section (Bl) and the second web section (B2) have different coatings and/or different material properties.

Description

24-1475 Manufacturing system and manufacturing process for battery cell electrodes The present disclosure relates to a manufacturing system for battery cell electrodes and a manufacturing process for battery cell electrodes. The present disclosure relates in particular to the homogenization of anode properties, such as camber and thickness, in battery cell production. State of the art The production of anodes for battery cells, especially for lithium-ion batteries, involves several process steps aimed at optimizing the electrochemical performance and lifespan of the cells. Exemplary process steps include applying an anode slurry, consisting of an active material, binders, and solvents, to a copper foil. This is followed by drying the coated foil, calendering to homogenize the layer thickness and density, and cutting the anode to the desired size. Subsequently, vacuum drying or, alternatively, jelly roll drying (JR drying) is performed, in which the anodes are dried in a coiled state. During the drying process and/or storage of the anodes, especially in the wound coil state, a stress build-up can occur in the electrode, negatively affecting its properties. Undesirable effects include a local increase in camber, resulting in an uneven camber profile, the appearance of electrode waviness, and an increase in thickness, leading to an uneven thickness profile. Furthermore, the stress build-up reduces the anode's deformability, which is essential during subsequent cell operation to prevent damage to the battery cell. For example, reduced anode deformability increases the risk of foil ruptures during charging and discharging processes and can compromise the battery cell's lifespan and safety. 24-1475 Disclosure of the invention The purpose of this disclosure is to specify a manufacturing system and a manufacturing process for battery cell electrodes that can improve the quality of the electrodes. In particular, it is a purpose of this disclosure to increase the reliability and service life of the battery cells. This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims. According to an independent aspect of the present disclosure, a manufacturing system for electrodes of battery cells, such as lithium-ion cells, is specified. The manufacturing system comprises: a first roller arrangement configured to calender an electrode web; a heating arrangement configured to heat the electrode web after calendering; and a second roller arrangement with at least one second roller, wherein the at least one second roller comprises at least one first roller section with a first roller diameter and at least one second roller section with a second roller diameter, the second roller diameter being larger than the first roller diameter, and wherein the at least one first roller section corresponds to a first web section of the electrode web and the at least one second roller section corresponds to a second web section of the electrode web, wherein the first web section and the second web section have different coatings and/or different material properties. According to the invention, after calendering, a heating process of the electrode path is carried out in order to selectively induce a springback, i.e., a renewed increase in the thickness of the electrode path. 24-1475 are generated. A further process step then takes place in which specific areas of the electrode web are elongated by a roller with a locally increased diameter. For example, force can be applied to an area with an uncoated conductive foil, causing this area to undergo plastic elongation. This allows, in particular, the compensation of a length difference between coated and uncoated areas. The combination of both measures, i.e., heating and local elongation, leads to a reduction in camber and a reduction in stress build-up. This results in improved electrode quality as well as increased reliability and extended service life of the battery cells. In the context of battery cell manufacturing, particularly for anodes and cathodes, the term "camber" refers to a bending or curvature of a flat, thin layer of material, such as an electrode. This curvature often occurs unintentionally during processing and can be caused by mechanical or thermal stresses that build up in the material during the manufacturing process, e.g., during calendering, drying, or storage. The electrode of the present disclosure is a conductive component that serves either as an anode (positive electrode) or as a cathode (negative electrode). Such an electrode typically consists of an active material applied to a support material or substrate by means of a coating process. The substrate is, for example, a metallic foil, such as copper for the anode or aluminum for the cathode. This substrate serves as a support for the active material, which is applied by means of the coating process. In this process, a mixture of active materi