| CPC H01M 50/403 (2021.01) [H01M 10/0525 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A method for depositing separator material comprising:
during a first time period:
receiving a first substrate in a coating zone;
spray-coating a constellation of separator material droplets over the first substrate, each droplet in the constellation of separator material droplets comprising a first solvent, a first polymer miscible in the first solvent, and a second polymer miscible in the first solvent; and
accessing a target substrate temperature less than a boiling point of the first solvent; and
during a second time period succeeding the first time period:
heating the first substrate and the constellation of separator material droplets to the target substrate temperature to evaporate the first solvent out of the constellation of separator material droplets and promote phase-separation of the second polymer from the first polymer;
washing the constellation of separator material droplets with a second solvent to dissolve the second polymer out of the constellation of separator material droplets and render an open-celled network of pores within the constellation of separator material droplets; and
irradiating the constellation of separator material droplets and the first substrate to crosslink the first polymer and form a separator film on the first substrate, the separator film defining the open-celled network of pores sized to transport ions.
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