Electrode, a method for manufacturing an electrode and an apparatus for manufacturing an electrode

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electrode for a biplate assembly comprising an active material made from a compressed powder 11 , and a non-metal carrier 10 . The invention also relates to a biplate assembly 20 comprising electrodes 27, 28 each having a non-metal carrier 10 , a method for manufacturing an electrode 13 having a non-metal carrier 10 , an apparatus 30 for manufacturing such an electrode 13 , and a bipolar battery including at least one such an electrode 13 . The non-metal carrier 10 is preferably a non-conductive carrier.

1 . An electrode for a biplate assembly comprising an active material made from a compressed powder, and a non-metal carrier.  
     
     
         2 . The electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein the compressed powder mainly is arranged on one side of the non-metal carrier.  
     
     
         3 . The electrode according to  claim 1 , wherein the non-metal carrier is a non-conductive carrier.  
     
     
         4 . The electrode according to  claim 3 , wherein the non-conductive carrier is made from a polymer material.  
     
     
         5 . The electrode according to  claim 4 , wherein the non-conductive carrier has a grid structure of polymer fibres.  
     
     
         6 . The electrode according to  claim 4 , wherein the non-conductive carrier has a random structure of polymer fibres.  
     
     
         7 . A biplate assembly comprising 
 a biplate,    a first active material of a first electrodes    a second active material, opposite to said first active material, of a second electrode, and    each electrode further comprises a non-metal carrier.    
     
     
         8 . The biplate assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the non-metal carrier is in non-contact with the biplate.  
     
     
         9 . The biplate assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the biplate assembly further comprises a separator provided with an electrolyte, said separator being in contact with the non-metal carrier.  
     
     
         10 . The biplate assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the non-metal carrier is a non-conductive carrier.  
     
     
         11 . A method for manufacturing an electrode comprising: 
 compressing an active material onto a carrier ( 10 ), and    providing a non-metal carrier ( 10 ) onto which the active material is compressed.    
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises the step of forming a shape of the electrode.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of forming the electrode comprises cutting the active material and the non-metal carrier by a cutter.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the active material is applied only to one side of the non-metal carrier.  
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the active material is arranged continuously to the non-metal carrier.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the active material is arranged discretely to the non-metal carrier.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the non-metal carrier is selected to be non-conductive.  
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for manufacturing an electrode comprising: 
 a means to provide a non-metal carrier onto which an active material of powder is arranged in a suitable amount, and    a means for compressing said powder to said non-metal carrier.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the non-metal carrier is supplied from a roll and is kept under tension by a tensioning device when said active material is arranged on said non-metal carrier and compressed.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a cutter which is used to form the electrode.  
     
     
         21 . The apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the cutter only cuts the length of the electrode when the width of the electrode is selected to be the width of the non-metal carrier.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a spreader, which levels the powder arranged on the non-metal carrier prior to being compressed.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the apparatus further comprises a distributing means to arrange the suitable amount of powder onto said non-metal carrier.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the distributing means comprises a rotating distributor.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the depositing means further comprises an agitator, which provides uniformly distributed active powder to said rotating distributor.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus according to  claim 24 , wherein the rotating distributor is provided with grooves, which are filled by active powder during rotation of the distributor, said active powder thereafter being arranged in a suitable amount on said non-metal carrier.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the non-metal carrier is a non-conductive carrier.  
     
     
         28 . A bipolar battery including at least one electrode comprising an active material made from a compressed powder, and a non-metal carrier.