Patent Description:
Non-aqueous secondary batteries (hereinafter, also referred to simply as "secondary batteries"), such as lithium ion secondary batteries, have characteristics such as compact size, light weight, high energy density, and the ability to be repeatedly charged and discharged, and are used in a wide variety of applications. Consequently, in recent years, studies have been made to improve electrodes and other battery components with the aim of achieving even higher non-aqueous secondary battery performance.

An electrode for a non-aqueous secondary battery, such as a lithium ion secondary battery, typically includes a current collector and an electrode mixed material layer formed on the current collector. The electrode mixed material layer is formed, for example, by applying, onto the current collector, a slurry composition in which an electrode active material, a binder composition containing a binding material, and so forth are dispersed in a dispersion medium, and drying the applied slurry composition.

In recent years, in order to further improve the performance of a secondary battery, a stronger adhesion of an electrode mixed material layer to a current collector (in other words, an improvement in the peel strength of an electrode) has been demanded. To address these issues, Patent Document <NUM> and <NUM> have proposed improved binder compositions to be used for preparation of electrode mixed material layers, for example. Patent Literature <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> describe binder compositions to be used for preparation of electrode mixed material layers. Patent Literature <NUM> describes a battery cathode including an electrochemically active cathode material, an electrolyte, binder, and electronic conductivity enhancer material.

Against this background, aiming at providing a sufficient peel strength of an electrode and improving the energy density of a secondary battery, a technique to press an electrode mixed material layer on a current collector has been adopted. Specifically, a slurry composition is applied onto a current collector, and is then dried. The resultant pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer is pressed by a roll press or the like, to thereby yield a post-pressing electrode mixed material layer that is closely adhered to a current collector and has a high density.

Such a pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer formed by pressing a conventional binder composition as described above, however, may not have a sufficiently high density after pressed (in other words, it has low pressibility), and conventional binder compositions as described above may not provide electrodes having sufficiently high peel strengths. Accordingly, there is still room for improvement over the conventional binder compositions described above in terms of assurance of a satisfactory peel strength of an electrode and enhancement of the pressibility of a pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer.

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to providing a binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode and a slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode which can improve the peel strengths of electrodes while increasing the pressibilities of pre-pressing electrode mixed material layers.

The present invention is also directed to providing a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode having an excellent peel strength and a method of producing the same, and a non-aqueous secondary battery having the non-aqueous secondary battery electrode.

The inventor conducted diligent investigation with the aim of solving the aforementioned issues. The inventor discovered that usage of a polymer, as a binder, including certain monomer units and having a THF (tetrahydrofuran) insoluble content of a certain value or less could increase the pressibilities of pre-pressing electrode mixed material layers and thus readily increased the density of the electrode mixed material layers, thereby completing the present invention.

Specifically, the present invention is directed to a binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode comprising a polymer A, wherein the polymer A includes a carboxy group-containing monomer unit, an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and a nitrile-group containing monomer unit, and the polymer A has a THF-insoluble content of <NUM>% by mass or less. The binder composition comprising the polymer including the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and the nitrile-group containing monomer unit, and having a THF-insoluble content of <NUM>% by mass or less can improve the peel strengths of electrodes, as well as improving the pressibilities of pre-pressing electrode mixed material layers.

Note that the "THF-insoluble content" of a polymer in the present disclosure can be measured by a method described in the EXAMPLES section of the present specification. Moreover, in the present disclosure, "including a monomer unit" means that "a repeating unit derived from that monomer is included in a polymer obtained using that monomer".

Here, in the binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention, the polymer A preferably includes the nitrile-group containing monomer unit in a proportion of <NUM>% by mass or more and <NUM>% by mass or less. The polymer A containing the nitrile-group containing monomer unit in the aforementioned proportion can further improve the pressibilities of pre-pressing electrode mixed material layers and the peel strengths of electrodes.

Moreover, in the binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention, the polymer A preferably includes the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit in a proportion of <NUM>% by mass or more and <NUM>% by mass or less. The polymer A including the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit in the aforementioned proportion can further improve the pressibilities of pre-pressing electrode mixed material layers and the peel strengths of electrodes.

The binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention also comprises a polymer B, and the polymer B includes a carboxy group-containing monomer unit, an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and an aromatic vinyl monomer unit. The binder composition comprising the polymer B including the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and the aromatic vinyl monomer unit can further improve the peel strengths of electrodes. The polymer B in the binder composition has a tetrahydrofuran-insoluble content of more than <NUM>% by mass.

Moreover, the present invention is directed to a slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode which comprises an electrode active material, and the aforementioned binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention. The slurry composition comprising the electrode active material and the binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode enables preparation of pre-pressing electrode mixed material layers having excellent pressibilities and fabrication of electrodes having excellent peel strengths.

Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode comprising an electrode mixed material layer formed using the aforementioned slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention. The aforementioned slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode enables provision of non-aqueous secondary battery electrodes having excellent peel strengths.

A non-aqueous secondary battery of the present invention comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte solution, and a separator, wherein at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode is the non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention described above. Employment of the aforementioned non-aqueous secondary battery electrode in this manner enables provision of a non-aqueous secondary battery having excellent battery characteristics.

Additionally, the present invention is directed to a method of producing a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention comprising the steps of applying the aforementioned slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode onto a current collector; drying the slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode which has been applied onto the current collector to form a pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer on the current collector; and pressing the pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer to form a post-pressing electrode mixed material layer, a temperature to press the pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer being <NUM> or higher and <NUM> or lower. Employment of the process using the foregoing slurry composition of the present invention can increase the density of the electrode mixed material layer in a suitable manner, and enables production of the electrode having an excellent peel strength.

Here, the method of producing a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention preferably further comprises the step of heating the post-pressing electrode mixed material layer at <NUM> or higher and <NUM> or lower. The heating of the post-pressing electrode mixed material layer at a temperature within the aforementioned range can suppress a recovery (elastic recovery) of the shape from an elastic deformation which has been provided to the electrode during the pressing (this phenomenon is referred to as "spring back"), as well as further improving the peel strength of the electrode.

In accordance with the present invention, a binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode and a slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode can be provided which can improve the peel strengths of electrodes while increasing the pressibilities of pre-pressing electrode mixed material layers.

In addition, in accordance with the present invention, a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode having an excellent peel strength and a method of producing the same, and a non-aqueous secondary battery having the non-aqueous secondary battery electrode, can also be provided.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below.

A binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention can be used for preparation of a slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention. Moreover, the slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention prepared using the binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention can be used to form a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention by a method of forming a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention. Furthermore, a non-aqueous secondary battery of the present invention comprises the non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention formed using the slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention.

The binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention contains a polymer A as a binder, and contains a polymer B as a binder and optionally an additional component that can be included in secondary battery electrodes. The binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention typically further contains a dispersion medium such as water. In the binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention, the polymer A includes a carboxy group-containing monomer unit, an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and a nitrile-group containing monomer unit, and a THF-insoluble content of the polymer A is <NUM>% by mass or less.

Since the binder composition of the present invention contains the polymer A including the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and the nitrile-group containing monomer unit, and having a THF-insoluble content of <NUM>% by mass or less as described above, the pressibilities of pre-pressing electrode mixed material layers are increased, which contributes to readily increase the density of the electrode mixed material layers, and excellent peel strengths can be provided to electrodes.

In an electrode produced by forming an electrode mixed material layer on a current collector using a slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode prepared from the binder composition, the polymer A holds components contained in the electrode mixed material layer to prevent these components detaching from the electrode mixed material layer (i.e., the polymer A functions as a binder).

The THF-insoluble content of the polymer A needs to be <NUM>% by mass or less, and is preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, and still even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less. The polymer A having a THF-insoluble content of <NUM>% by mass or less readily deforms responsive to a pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer being pressed, and does not hinder displacement of the electrode active material. The reason is assumed that such a polymer A has flexibility and thus is capable of functioning as a cushioning material. Hence, the binder composition containing the polymer A enables favorable fabrication of an electrode provided with a highly densified electrode mixed material layer. The lower limit of the THF-insoluble content of the polymer A is <NUM>% by mass or more, and the THF-insoluble content is preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, from the perspective of reducing excessive elution of the polymer A into an electrolyte solution, thereby assuring good battery characteristics of a secondary battery.

The THF-insoluble content of the polymer A can be controlled by adjusting the type and the amount of the monomers used to prepare the polymer A, the amount of a molecular weight modifier, and the polymerization condition, such as the reaction temperature and the reaction time.

The polymer A includes a carboxy group-containing monomer unit, an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit, and a nitrile-group containing monomer unit as repeating units, and may optionally include a monomer unit other than the carboxy group-containing monomer unit, the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and the nitrile-group containing monomer unit (additional monomer unit). The polymer A including both the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and the nitrile-group containing monomer unit has excellent adhesiveness and flexibility, and may contribute to an improvement in the pressibilities of pre-pressing electrode mixed material layers and the peel strength of electrodes.

Examples of aliphatic conjugated diene monomers that can be used to form the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit include <NUM>,<NUM>-butadiene, <NUM>-methyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-butadiene (isoprene), and <NUM>,<NUM>-dimethyl-<NUM>,<NUM>-butadiene. Of these aliphatic conjugated diene monomers, <NUM>,<NUM>-butadiene and isoprene are preferable, and <NUM>,<NUM>-butadiene is more preferable. One type of aliphatic conjugated diene monomer may be used individually, or two or more types of aliphatic conjugated diene monomers may be used in combination in an arbitrarily selected ratio.

The proportion of the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit in the polymer A when the amount of all monomer units in the polymer A is taken to be <NUM>% by mass is preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, and still even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, and is preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, and preferably <NUM>% by mass or less. The polymer A having a percentage content of the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit of <NUM>% by mass or more does not have an excessively high glass-transition temperature, which ensures the adhesiveness of the polymer A and can further improve the peel strengths of electrodes. On the other hand, the polymer A having a percentage content of the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit of <NUM>% by mass or less prevents an increase in the THF-insoluble content of the polymer A and can further improve the pressibilities of pre-pressing electrode mixed material layers. In addition, the adhesiveness of the polymer A is ensured and the peel strengths of electrodes can be further improved, which is assumed to be achieved through the prevention of an excessive decline in the glass-transition temperature.

Examples of nitrile group-containing monomers that can be used to form the nitrile-group containing monomer unit include α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomers. Specifically, any α,β-ethylenically unsaturated compound that has a nitrile group may be used as the α,β-ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer without any specific limitations and examples include acrylonitrile; α-halogenoacrylonitriles such as α-chloroacrylonitrile and α-bromoacrylonitrile; and α-alkylacrylonitriles such as methacrylonitrile and α-ethylacrylonitrile. Of these, acrylonitrile and methacrylonitrile are preferable, and acrylonitrile is more preferable as a nitrile group-containing monomer. Note that it is possible to use only one type of monomer containing a nitrile group or to use two or more types in combination at any ratio.

The proportion of the nitrile-group containing monomer unit in the polymer A when all repeating units in the polymer A are taken to be <NUM>% by mass is preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, and even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, and is preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, and even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less. The polymer A having a percentage content of the nitrile-group containing monomer unit of <NUM>% by mass or more prevents an increase in the THF-insoluble content of the polymer A and can further improve the pressibilities of pre-pressing electrode mixed material layers. In addition, the adhesiveness of the polymer A is ensured and the peel strengths of electrodes can be further improved, which is assumed to be achieved through the prevention of an excessive decline in the glass-transition temperature. On the other hand, the polymer A having a percentage content of the nitrile-group containing monomer unit of <NUM>% by mass or less does not have an excessively high glass-transition temperature, which ensures the adhesiveness of the polymer A and can further improve the peel strengths of electrodes.

Examples of carboxy group-containing monomers that can be used to form the carboxy group-containing monomer unit include monocarboxylic acids, derivatives of monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, acid anhydrides of dicarboxylic acids, and derivatives of dicarboxylic acids.

Examples of monocarboxylic acids include acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and crotonic acid.

Examples of monocarboxylic acid derivatives include <NUM>-ethylacrylic acid, isocrotonic acid, α-acetoxy acrylic acid, β-trans-aryloxy acrylic acid, α-chloro-β-E-methoxy acrylic acid, and β-diamino acrylic acid.

Examples of dicarboxylic acids include maleic acid, fumaric acid, and itaconic acid.

Examples of dicarboxylic acid derivatives include methylmaleic acid, dimethylmaleic acid, phenylmaleic acid, chloromaleic acid, dichloromaleic acid, fluoromaleic acid, and maleic acid esters such as methylallyl maleate, diphenyl maleate, nonyl maleate, decyl maleate, dodecyl maleate, octadecyl maleate, and fluoroalkyl maleates.

Examples of acid anhydrides of the dicarboxylic acid include maleic anhydride, acrylic anhydride, methylmaleic anhydride, and dimethylmaleic anhydride.

Furthermore, an acid anhydride that produces a carboxyl group upon hydrolysis can also be used as a monomer having a carboxy group.

Other examples include monoesters and diesters of α,β-ethylenically unsaturated polybasic carboxylic acids such as monoethyl maleate, diethyl maleate, monobutyl maleate, dibutyl maleate, monoethyl fumarate, diethyl fumarate, monobutyl fumarate, dibutyl fumarate, monocyclohexyl fumarate, dicyclohexyl fumarate, monoethyl itaconate, diethyl itaconate, monobutyl itaconate, and dibutyl itaconate.

Examples of monomer units other than the above-described carboxy group-containing monomer unit, aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and nitrile-group containing monomer unit that may be included in the polymer A include repeating units derived from known monomers that are copolymerizable with aliphatic conjugated diene monomers and nitrile-group containing monomers described above. Specific examples of an additional monomer unit include an aromatic vinyl monomer unit, a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer unit, and a hydrophilic group-containing monomer unit.

One of these monomers may be used individually, or two or more of these monomers may be used in combination. In the present disclosure, "(meth)acryl" is used to indicate "acryl" and/or "methacryl".

Examples of aromatic vinyl monomers that can be used to form the aromatic vinyl monomer unit include styrene, styrenesulfonic acid and salts thereof, α-methylstyrene, butoxystyrene, and vinylnaphthalene.

Examples of (meth)acrylic acid ester monomers that can be used to form the (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer unit include alkyl esters of acrylic acid such as methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, n-propyl acrylate, isopropyl acrylate, n-butyl acrylate, t-butyl acrylate, isobutyl acrylate, n-pentyl acrylate, isopentyl acrylate, hexyl acrylate, heptyl acrylate, octyl acrylate, <NUM>-ethylhexyl acrylate, nonyl acrylate, decyl acrylate, lauryl acrylate, n-tetradecyl acrylate, and stearyl acrylate; and alkyl esters of methacrylic acid such as methyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-propyl methacrylate, isopropyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, t-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, n-pentyl methacrylate, isopentyl methacrylate, hexyl methacrylate, heptyl methacrylate, octyl methacrylate, <NUM>-ethylhexyl methacrylate, nonyl methacrylate, decyl methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, n-tetradecyl methacrylate, and stearyl methacrylate.

Examples of hydrophilic group-containing monomers that can be used to form the hydrophilic group-containing monomer unit include polymerizable monomers having a hydrophilic group. Examples of hydrophilic group-containing monomers include sulfonate group-containing monomers, phosphate group-containing monomers, and hydroxy group-containing monomers.

Examples of sulfonate group-containing monomers include vinyl sulfonic acid, methyl vinyl sulfonic acid, (meth)allyl sulfonic acid, (meth)acrylic acid-<NUM>-ethyl sulfonate, <NUM>-acrylamido-<NUM>-methylpropane sulfonic acid, and <NUM>-allyloxy-<NUM>-hydroxypropane sulfonic acid.

The term "(meth)allyl" as used herein means allyl and/or methallyl.

Examples of monomers having a phosphate group include <NUM>-(meth)acryloyloxyethyl phosphate, methyl-<NUM>-(meth)acryloyloxyethyl phosphate, and ethyl-(meth)acryloyloxyethyl phosphate.

The term "(meth)acryloyl" as used in the present disclosure refers to "acryloyl and/or methacryloyl".

Examples of hydroxy group-containing monomers include ethylenically unsaturated alcohols such as (meth)allyl alcohol, <NUM>-buten-<NUM>-ol, and <NUM>-hexen-<NUM>-ol; alkanol esters of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids such as <NUM>-hydroxyethyl acrylate, <NUM>-hydroxypropyl acrylate, <NUM>-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, <NUM>-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, di-<NUM>-hydroxyethyl maleate, di-<NUM>-hydroxybutyl maleate, and di-<NUM>-hydroxypropyl itaconate; esters of (meth)acrylic acid and polyalkylene glycol represented by a general formula CH<NUM>=CR<NUM>-COO-(CqH2qO)p-H (where p represents an integer of <NUM> to <NUM>, q represents an integer of <NUM> to <NUM>, and R<NUM> represents hydrogen or a methyl group); mono(meth)acrylic acid esters of dihydroxy esters of dicarboxylic acids such as <NUM>-hydroxyethyl-<NUM>'-(meth)acryloyloxy phthalate and <NUM>-hydroxyethyl-<NUM>'-(meth)acryloyloxy succinate; vinyl ethers such as <NUM>-hydroxyethyl vinyl ether and <NUM>-hydroxypropyl vinyl ether; mono(meth)allyl ethers of alkylene glycols such as (meth)allyl-<NUM>-hydroxyethyl ether, (meth)allyl-<NUM>-hydroxypropyl ether, (meth)allyl-<NUM>-hydroxypropyl ether, (meth)allyl-<NUM>-hydroxybutyl ether, (meth)allyl-<NUM>-hydroxybutyl ether, (meth)allyl-<NUM>-hydroxybutyl ether, and (meth)allyl-<NUM>-hydroxyhexyl ether; polyoxyalkylene glycol mono(meth)allyl ethers such as diethylene glycol mono(meth)allyl ether and dipropylene glycol mono(meth)allyl ether; mono(meth)allyl ethers of halogen or hydroxy substituted (poly)alkylene glycols such as glycerin mono(meth)allyl ether, (meth)allyl-<NUM>-chloro-<NUM>-hydroxypropyl ether, and (meth)allyl-<NUM>-hydroxy-<NUM>-chloropropyl ether; mono(meth)allyl ethers of polyhydric phenols such as eugenol and isoeugenol, and halogen substituted products thereof; and (meth)allyl thioethers of alkylene glycols such as (meth)allyl-<NUM>-hydroxyethyl thioether and (meth)allyl-<NUM>-hydroxypropyl thioether.

The percentage content of an additional monomer unit in the polymer A is preferably <NUM>% by mass or more and <NUM>% by mass or less, more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, and even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less.

No specific limitations are placed on the method for preparing the polymer A. The polymer A can be prepared, for example, through polymerization, in an aqueous solvent, of a monomer composition that contains the monomers set forth above. The percentage content of each monomer in the monomer composition is typically the same as the proportion of each monomer unit in the target polymer.

The aqueous solvent is not specifically limited so long as the polymer A can be dispersed therein, and may be water used alone or a mixed solvent of water and another solvent.

The mode of polymerization is not specifically limited and may, for example, be any of solution polymerization, suspension polymerization, bulk polymerization, and emulsion polymerization. As the polymerization method, for example any of ion polymerization, radical polymerization, and living radical polymerization may be used.

A molecular weight modifier, an emulsifier, or a polymerization initiator used in polymerization can be those described in <CIT>, for example.

In particular, the molecular weight modifier used for preparation of the polymer A is preferably t-dodecyl mercaptan or α-methyl styrene dimer, and more preferably t-dodecyl mercaptan. The amount of molecular weight modifier used is preferably <NUM> parts by mass or more, more preferably <NUM> parts by mass or more, and even more preferably <NUM> parts by mass or more, and is preferably <NUM> parts by mass or less, more preferably <NUM> parts by mass or less, and even more preferably <NUM> parts by mass or less, when the total amount of all monomers in the monomer composition used for preparing the polymer A is taken to be <NUM> parts by mass. Here, when an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer is used for preparation of the polymer, the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer tends to promote formation of crosslink structures upon polymerization, which may cause the molecular weight to become too high. Such formation of crosslink structures and augmented molecular weight, in turn, increase the THF-insoluble content. However, as long as the amount of a molecular weight modifier is controlled to be in the aforementioned range when preparing the polymer A, an increase in the molecular weight of the polymer A and formations of crosslinks are controlled, which prevents an excessive increase in the THF-insoluble content of the polymer A.

Although no specific limitations are placed on the conditions for preparing the polymer A, the polymerization reaction is preferably carried out at a relatively low temperature for long time. Specifically, the reaction temperature is preferably <NUM> or higher, and more preferably <NUM> or higher, and is preferably <NUM> or lower, more preferably <NUM> or lower, and even more preferably <NUM> or lower. The reaction time is preferably <NUM> hours or longer, and more preferably <NUM> hours or longer, and is preferably <NUM> hours or shorter, and more preferably <NUM> hours or shorter. By adjusting the reaction temperature and the reaction time as described above, a suitable reaction efficiency is ensured, and an increases in the molecular weight of the polymer A and formations of crosslinks are restricted, which prevents an excessive increase in the THF-insoluble content of the polymer A.

The binder composition of the present invention contains a polymer B including a carboxy group-containing monomer unit, an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and an aromatic vinyl monomer unit. In an electrode produced by forming an electrode mixed material layer on a current collector using a slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode prepared from the binder composition, the polymer B holds components contained in the electrode mixed material layer to prevent these components detaching from the electrode mixed material layer (i.e., the polymer B functions as a binder in conjunction with the previously described polymer A).

The binder composition containing a polymer B including the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and the aromatic vinyl monomer unit can further improve the peel strengths of electrodes.

The tetrahydrofuran (THF) insoluble amount of the polymer B is more than <NUM>% by mass, preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, and yet still even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, and is preferably <NUM>% by mass or less and more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less. The polymer B of the THF-insoluble content of more than <NUM>% by mass ensures the breaking strength of the polymer B, which further improves the peel strengths of electrodes. On the other hand, the polymer B of the THF-insoluble content of <NUM>% by mass or less promotes blending of the polymer B and an electrolyte solution and ensures the injectability of the electrolyte solution upon production of a secondary battery, thereby improving the battery characteristics of the secondary battery.

The THF-insoluble content of the polymer B can be controlled by adjusting the type and the amount of the monomers used to prepare the polymer B, the amount of a molecular weight modifier, and the polymerization condition, such as the reaction temperature and the reaction time.

The polymer B includes a carboxy group-containing monomer unit, an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and an aromatic vinyl monomer unit as repeating units, and may optionally include a monomer unit other than the carboxy group-containing monomer unit, the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit, and the aromatic vinyl monomer unit (additional monomer unit).

Examples of aliphatic conjugated diene monomers that can be used to form the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit of the polymer B include the same aliphatic conjugated diene monomers as those that can be used to form the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit of the previously described polymer A. Of these monomers, <NUM>,<NUM>-butadiene and isoprene are preferable, and <NUM>,<NUM>-butadiene is more preferable as the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer forming the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit of the polymer B. One type of aliphatic conjugated diene monomer may be used individually, or two or more types of aliphatic conjugated diene monomers may be used in combination in an arbitrarily selected ratio.

The proportion of the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit in the polymer B when all repeating units in the polymer B are taken to be <NUM>% by mass is preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, and even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, and is preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, and even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less. The polymer B having a percentage content of the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit of <NUM>% by mass or more does not have an excessively high glass-transition temperature, which ensures the adhesiveness of the polymer B and can further improve the peel strengths of electrodes. On the other hand, a percentage content of the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit of <NUM>% by mass or less ensures the breaking strength of the polymer B, which further improves the peel strengths of electrodes.

Examples of aromatic vinyl monomers that can be used to form the aromatic vinyl monomer unit of the polymer B include the same aromatic vinyl monomers as those that can be used to form other monomer units of the previously described polymer A. Of these, styrene is preferred as the aromatic vinyl monomer forming the aromatic vinyl monomer unit of the polymer B. The aromatic vinyl monomer may be used alone or in combination of two or more thereof at any ratio.

The proportion of the aromatic vinyl monomer unit in the polymer B when all repeating units in the polymer B are taken to be <NUM>% by mass is preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, and even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, and is preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, and even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less. The percentage content of the aromatic vinyl monomer unit of <NUM>% by mass or more ensures the breaking strength of the polymer B, which further improves the peel strengths of electrodes. On the other hand, the polymer B with the percentage content of the aromatic vinyl monomer unit of <NUM>% by mass or less does not have an excessively high glass-transition temperature, which ensures the adhesiveness of the polymer B and can further improve the peel strengths of electrodes.

Examples of carboxy group-containing monomers that can be used to form the carboxy group-containing monomer unit include monocarboxylic acids, derivatives of monocarboxylic acids, dicarboxylic acids, acid anhydrides of dicarboxylic acids, and derivatives of dicarboxylic acids. Itaconic acid is a preferable carboxy group-containing monomer.

Examples of monomer units other than the above-described carboxy group-containing monomer unit, aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit, and aromatic vinyl monomer unit that may be included in the polymer B include repeating units derived from known monomers that are copolymerizable with aliphatic conjugated diene monomers and aromatic vinyl monomers described above. Specific examples of an additional monomer unit include a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer unit and a hydrophilic group-containing monomer unit.

One of these monomers may be used individually, or two or more of these monomers may be used in combination.

Examples of (meth)acrylic acid ester monomers and hydrophilic group-containing monomers that can be used to form a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer unit and a hydrophilic group-containing monomer unit of the polymer B include the same (meth)acrylic acid ester monomers and hydrophilic group-containing monomers as those that can be used to form an additional monomer unit in the previously described polymer A. Of these monomers, methyl methacrylate and <NUM>-ethylhexyl acrylate are preferable as (meth)acrylic acid ester monomers for forming a (meth)acrylic acid ester monomer unit of the polymer B. Moreover, hydroxy group-containing monomers are preferable, and <NUM>-hydroxyethyl acrylate is more preferable as hydrophilic group-containing monomer for forming a hydrophilic group-containing monomer unit.

The percentage content of the additional monomer unit in the polymer B is preferably <NUM>% by mass or more and <NUM>% by mass or less, more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, and even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less.

The polymer B can be prepared through polymerization of a monomer composition that contains the monomers described above. The proportion of each monomer in the monomer composition is typically the same as the proportion of each monomer unit in the target polymer. No specific limitations are placed on the mode of polymerization of the polymer B. For example, any of solution polymerization, suspension polymerization, bulk polymerization, and emulsion polymerization may be used. Moreover, the polymerization reaction may be addition polymerization such as ionic polymerization, radical polymerization, or living radical polymerization. A molecular weight modifier, an emulsifier, or a polymerization initiator used in polymerization may be the ones that are generally used and the amount thereof may also be the one that are generally used.

No specific limitations are placed on the content ratio of the polymer A to the polymer B. Yet, the content of the polymer B in the binder composition is preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, and even more preferably <NUM>% by mass or more, and preferably <NUM>% by mass or less and more preferably <NUM>% by mass or less, of the total content of the polymer A and the polymer B. The content of the polymer B in the binder composition of <NUM>% by mass or more of the total content of the polymer A and the polymer B can further enhance the peel strengths of electrodes, and that of <NUM>% by mass or less can ensure satisfactory pressibility of a pre-pressing electrode mixed material layers.

Note that the binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention may further contain any polymer other than the polymer A and the polymer B described above as a binder.

The dispersion medium contained in the binder composition of the present invention is not specifically limited and may, for example, be water. Alternatively, the dispersion medium may be an aqueous solution of any compound or a mixed solution of water and a small amount of an organic solvent.

Other than the components set forth above, the binder composition of the present invention may contain components such as a reinforcing material, a leveling agent, a viscosity modifier, and an additive for electrolyte solution. These optional components are not limited so long as they do not affect the battery reaction, and may be selected from well-known components, such as those described in <CIT>. One of these components may be used individually, or two or more of these components may be used in combination in an arbitrarily selected ratio.

No specific limitations are placed on the method for preparing the binder composition of the present invention. Upon preparing a binder composition containing the polymer A and the polymer B as binders, for example, a water dispersion containing the polymer A, a water dispersion containing the polymer B and an optional component may be mixed together. Note that in a situation in which a water dispersion of a polymer is used for preparing the binder composition, liquid content of this water dispersion may be used as the dispersion medium of the binder composition.

A slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention includes an electrode active material and the binder composition described above, and optionally contains other components. In other words, the slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention typically contains an electrode active material, the above-described polymer A, and a dispersion medium, and contains the polymer B and optionally an additional component. The slurry composition, as a result of containing the binder composition set forth above, enables preparation of pre-pressing electrode mixed material layers having excellent pressibilities and fabrication of electrodes having excellent peel strengths.

Although the following describes, as one example, a case in which the slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode is a slurry composition for lithium ion secondary battery negative electrodes, the present invention is not limited to the following example.

The electrode active material is a material that accepts and donates electrons in an electrode of a secondary battery. The negative electrode active material of a lithium ion secondary battery is typically a material that can occlude and release lithium.

Specific examples of negative electrode active materials for lithium ion secondary batteries include carbon-based negative electrode active materials, metal-based negative electrode active materials, and negative electrode active materials formed by combining these materials.

A carbon-based negative electrode active material refers to an active material that has carbon as the main skeleton and that can have lithium intercalated (doped) therein. Examples of the carbon-based negative electrode active material include a carbonaceous material and a graphitic material.

Examples of carbonaceous materials include graphitizing carbon and non-graphitizing carbon, typified by glassy carbon, which has a structure similar to an amorphous structure.

Here, the graphitizing carbon may be a carbon material made from tar pitch that can be obtained from petroleum or coal. Specific examples include coke, mesocarbon microbead (MCMB), mesophase pitch-based carbon fiber, and pyrolytic vapor-grown carbon fiber.

Examples of the non-graphitizing carbon include a phenolic resin burned substance, polyacrylonitrile-based carbon fiber, quasi-isotropic carbon, furfuryl alcohol resin burned substance (PFA), and hard carbon.

Examples of graphitic materials include natural graphite and artificial graphite.

Examples of artificial graphite include artificial graphite resulting from heat treatment, mainly at <NUM>,<NUM> or higher, of carbon that contains graphitizing carbon; graphitized MCMB resulting from heat treatment, at <NUM>,<NUM> or higher, of MCMB; and graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon fiber resulting from heat treatment, at <NUM>,<NUM> or higher, of mesophase pitch-based carbon fiber.

The metal-based negative electrode active material is an active material that contains metal, the structure of which usually contains an element that allows intercalation of lithium, and that exhibits a theoretical electric capacitance of <NUM> mAh/g or higher per unit mass when lithium is intercalated. For the metal-based active material, for example, lithium metal, an elementary metal that can be used to form lithium alloys (for example, Ag, Al, Ba, Bi, Cu, Ga, Ge, In, Ni, P, Pb, Sb, Si, Sn, Sr, Zn, Ti) and alloys thereof; and oxides, sulfides, nitrides, silicides, carbides, and phosphides thereof can be used. Of these metal-based negative electrode active materials, active materials containing silicon (silicon-based negative electrode active materials) are preferred. The use of a silicon-based negative electrode active material results in the increased capacity of lithium ion secondary batteries.

Examples of the silicon-based negative electrode active material include silicon (Si), a silicon-containing alloy, SiO, SiOx, and a composite material of conductive carbon and a Si-containing material obtained by coating or combining the Si-containing material with the conductive carbon. One type of silicon-based negative electrode active material may be used individually, or two or more types of silicon-based negative electrode active materials may be used in combination.

As a binder composition, the binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention may be used, which comprises the polymer A as a binder and comprises the polymer B.

The content in the slurry composition of the polymer A derived from the binder composition, in terms of solid content per <NUM> parts by mass of the electrode active material, is preferably <NUM> parts by mass or more and more preferably <NUM> parts by mass or more, and preferably <NUM> parts by mass or less and more preferably <NUM> parts by mass or less. In addition, the content in the slurry composition of the polymer B derived from the binder composition, in terms of solid content per <NUM> parts by mass of the electrode active material, is preferably <NUM> parts by mass or more and more preferably <NUM> parts by mass or more, and preferably <NUM> parts by mass or less and more preferably <NUM> parts by mass or less.

Examples of an additional component that may be contained in the slurry composition include the same additional components that may be contained in the binder composition of the present invention. The slurry composition may further contain a conductive material such as carbon black. One of such other components may be used individually, or two or more of such other components may be used in combination in an arbitrarily selected ratio.

The slurry composition described above can be prepared by dispersing or dissolving the above-mentioned components in a dispersion medium such as water. Specifically, the slurry composition can be prepared by mixing the above-described components and the dispersion medium using a mixer such as a ball mill, a sand mill, a bead mill, a pigment disperser, a grinding machine, an ultrasonic disperser, a homogenizer, a planetary mixer, or a FILMIX. Mixing of the aforementioned components and the dispersion medium can typically be performed for a period of <NUM> minutes to several hours in a temperature range of room temperature to <NUM>. The dispersion medium used in the production of the slurry composition may be the same as that of the binder composition. Moreover, the dispersion medium used in preparation of the slurry composition may include the dispersion medium that was contained in the binder composition.

A non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention comprises an electrode mixed material layer formed using the slurry composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode set forth above, and typically comprises a current collector having the electrode mixed material layer formed thereon. The electrode mixed material layer contains at least an electrode active material and the polymer A, and contains the polymer B and optionally an additional component. The polymer A and the polymer B may be crosslinked by residual double bonds in the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit in a heating step, which will be described below. In other words, the electrode mixed material layer may contain cross-linked product of the polymer A and/or the polymer B.

Since the non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention is formed using the slurry composition of the present invention comprising the binder composition of the present invention, it has an excellent peel strength.

The non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention can be produced, for example, by a method of producing a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention.

The method of producing a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention comprises a step of applying the slurry composition described above onto a current collector (application step), a step of drying the slurry composition applied onto the current collector to form a pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer (drying step), a step of pressing the pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer to form a post-pressing electrode mixed material layer (pressing step), wherein the temperature (pressing temperature) for pressing the pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer in the pressing step is <NUM> or higher and <NUM> or lower. The method of producing a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention preferably comprises a step of heating the post-pressing electrode mixed material layer at <NUM> or higher and <NUM> or lower after the pressing step (heating step).

The method of applying the aforementioned slurry composition on a current collector is not particularly limited, and any of the methods known in the art may be used. Specifically, the slurry composition may be applied for example by doctor blading, dip coating, reverse roll coating, direct roll coating, gravure coating, extrusion coating, or brush coating. The slurry composition may be applied onto one side or both sides of the current collector. The thickness of the slurry coating on the current collector after application but before drying may be set as appropriate in accordance with the thickness of the electrode mixed material layer to be obtained after drying.

The current collector to be coated with the slurry composition is made of a material having electrical conductivity and electrochemical durability. Specifically, a current collector formed from iron, copper, aluminum, nickel, stainless steel, titanium, tantalum, gold, or platinum, for example, may be used as the current collector. The aforementioned materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more thereof at any ratio.

The slurry composition that has been applied onto the current collector may be dried by any commonly known method without any specific limitations. Examples of drying methods that can be used include drying by warm, hot, or low-humidity air; drying in a vacuum; and drying by irradiation with infrared light or electron beams. Through drying of the slurry composition on the current collector as described above, a pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer can be formed on the current collector. The drying temperature preferably is <NUM> or higher and <NUM> or lower. A drying temperature of <NUM> or higher can ensure a satisfactory efficiency of the drying. On the other hand, a drying temperature of <NUM> or lower inhibits crosslinking reactions of the polymer A and polymer B induced by the drying, which ensures a satisfactory pressibility of a pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer in the subsequent pressing step.

The method for pressing the pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer on the current collector is not specifically limited and may for example be a commonly known method, such as die press and roll press, for example. The pressing temperature is <NUM> or higher and <NUM> or lower, is preferably <NUM> or higher and preferably <NUM> or lower. If the pressing temperature is less than <NUM>, the polymer A in the pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer might not be softened sufficiently, hindering formation of a post-pressing electrode mixed material layer that has sufficiently high density and is closely adhered to the current collector. In addition, the pressing temperature of higher than <NUM> is undesirable because the pre-pressing electrode mixed material layer might be transferred to the pressing apparatus, which significantly reduces the productivity.

The post-pressing electrode mixed material layer on the current collector obtained in the above-described pressing step is preferably heated to promote crosslinking reactions of the polymer A and polymer B in the post-pressing electrode mixed material layer. Specifically, residual double bonds in aliphatic conjugated diene monomer units included in the polymer A and/or the polymer B are preferably crosslinked by means of heating, thereby promoting crosslinking reactions of the polymer. The heating step after the pressing step further improves the peel strength of the electrode, as well as suppressing the spring back of the electrode.

The method for heating the post-pressing electrode mixed material layer on the current collector is not specifically limited and a well-known heating method can be used. The heating temperature is preferably <NUM> or higher, more preferably <NUM> or higher, and even more preferably <NUM> or higher, and preferably <NUM> or lower, more preferably <NUM> or lower, and even more preferably <NUM> or lower, from the perspectives of enhancing both the effect to improve the peel strength and the effect to suppress a spring back by promoting crosslinking reactions to sufficient and suitable extent.

Furthermore, the heating time is preferably <NUM> hour or longer, more preferably <NUM> hours or longer, and even more preferably <NUM> hours or longer, and preferably <NUM> hours or shorter, more preferably <NUM> hours or shorter, and even more preferably <NUM> hours or shorter, from the perspectives of enhancing both the effect to improve the peel strength and the effect to suppress a spring back as described above by promoting crosslinking reactions to sufficient and suitable extent.

A presently-disclosed non-aqueous secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, an electrolyte solution, and a separator, wherein the non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention is used as at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The presently-disclosed non-aqueous secondary battery has excellent battery characteristics as a result of including the non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention.

The secondary battery of the present invention is preferably a secondary battery in which the secondary battery electrode of the present invention is used as a negative electrode. Although the following describes, as one example, a case in which the secondary battery is a lithium ion secondary battery, the present invention is not limited to the following example.

As explained above, the non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention is used as at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode. In other words, the positive electrode of the lithium ion secondary battery may be the electrode of the present invention and the negative electrode of the lithium ion secondary battery may be a known negative electrode other than the electrode of the present invention. Alternatively, the negative electrode of the lithium ion secondary battery may be the electrode of the present invention and the positive electrode of the lithium ion secondary battery may be a known positive electrode other than the electrode of the present invention. Further alternatively, the positive electrode and the negative electrode of the lithium ion secondary battery may both be the electrodes of the present invention.

Note that when a known electrode other than the non-aqueous secondary battery electrode of the present invention is used, this electrode may be an electrode that is obtained by forming an electrode mixed material layer on a current collector by a known production method.

The electrolyte solution is typically an organic electrolyte solution obtained by dissolving a supporting electrolyte in an organic solvent. The supporting electrolyte of a lithium ion secondary battery may, for example, be a lithium salt. Examples of lithium salts that may be used include LiPF<NUM>, LiAsF<NUM>, LiBF<NUM>, LiSbF<NUM>, LiAlCl<NUM>, LiClO<NUM>, CF<NUM>SO<NUM>Li, C<NUM>F<NUM>SO<NUM>Li, CF<NUM>COOLi, (CF<NUM>CO)<NUM>NLi, (CF<NUM>SO<NUM>)<NUM>NLi, and (C<NUM>F<NUM>SO<NUM>)NLi. Of these lithium salts, LiPF<NUM>, LiClO<NUM>, and CF<NUM>SO<NUM>Li are preferred in that they easily dissolve in solvent and exhibit a high degree of dissociation, with LiPF<NUM> being particularly preferred. One kind of electrolyte may be used alone, or two or more kinds may be used in combination at any ratio. In general, the lithium ion conductivity tends to increase when a supporting electrolyte having a high degree of dissociation is used. Therefore, the lithium ion conductivity can be adjusted through the type of supporting electrolyte that is used.

The organic solvent used in the electrolyte solution is not specifically limited so long as the supporting electrolyte can dissolve therein. Examples of suitable organic solvents that can be used include carbonates such as dimethyl carbonate (DMC), ethylene carbonate (EC), diethyl carbonate (DEC), propylene carbonate (PC), butylene carbonate (BC), and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC); esters such as γ-butyrolactone and methyl formate; ethers such as <NUM>,<NUM>-dimethoxyethane and tetrahydrofuran; and sulfur-containing compounds such as sulfolane and dimethyl sulfoxide. Furthermore, a mixed liquid of such solvents may be used. Of these solvents, carbonates are preferred for their high dielectric constant and broad stable potential region.

The concentration of the electrolyte in the electrolyte solution can be adjusted as needed. For example, the concentration is preferably <NUM>% to <NUM>% by mass, more preferably <NUM>% to <NUM>% by mass, and even more preferably <NUM>% to <NUM>% by mass. Known additives such as vinylene carbonate, fluoroethylene carbonate, and ethyl methyl sulfone may be added to the electrolyte solution.

Examples of separators that can be used include those described in <CIT>. Of these separators, a fine porous membrane made of polyolefinic (i.e., polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, and polyvinyl chloride) resin is preferred, because such a membrane can reduce the total thickness of the separator, which increases the ratio of the electrode active material in the secondary battery, consequently increasing the capacity per volume.

The secondary battery of the present invention is produced, for example, by stacking a positive electrode and a negative electrode with a separator provided therebetween, for example rolling or folding the resulting electrodes as necessary in accordance with the battery shape to place them in a battery container, filling the battery container with an electrolyte solution, and sealing the container. In order to prevent pressure increase inside the secondary battery and occurrence of overcharging or overdischarging, an overcurrent preventing device such as a fuse or a PTC device; an expanded metal; or a lead plate may be provided as necessary. The secondary battery may take any shape such as a coin, a button, a sheet, a cylinder, a square, and a plane.

The following provides a more specific description of the present invention based on examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples. An Example binder composition whose composition does not correspond to the definition of the composition of the binder composition of claim <NUM> is considered to be an Example which is not an embodiment of the claimed invention.

The THF-insoluble content of a polymer, the pressibility of an pre-pressing negative electrode mixed material layer, an extent of suppression of a spring back of a negative electrode, and the peel strengths of the negative electrode (after a pressing step and after a heating step) in each of Examples and Comparative Examples were measured and evaluated in the following procedures.

A water dispersion of a resultant polymer was dried in an environment of <NUM>% humidity and <NUM> to <NUM> to prepare a film having a thickness of <NUM>±<NUM>. The produced film was cut into <NUM>-mm squares to prepare film pieces, and these film pieces was precisely weighed out such that they weighed in total as close to <NUM> as possible. The weight of the precisely weighed film pieces was recorded as W0. The precisely weighed film pieces were then placed into a #<NUM> mesh SUS mesh cage (weight: W1) that was also precisely weighed. The mesh cage having the film pieces contained therein was immersed in <NUM> of tetrahydrofuran (THF) for <NUM> hours at <NUM>. Thereafter, the mesh cage was taken out from THF, vacuum dried at <NUM> for <NUM> hours, and its weight (sum of the mass of the insoluble content and the mass of the mesh cage) W2 was measured. The THF insoluble component was calculated according to the following equation, and the first figure of decimal position of the result was rounded off.

A negative electrode web prior to being subjected to a pressing step was cut into a piece of <NUM> in length and <NUM> in width to prepare a test piece. This test piece was pressed at <NUM> MPa for <NUM> seconds, and the density of the post-pressing negative electrode mixed material layer was calculated and evaluated according to the following criteria. A smaller density of the post-pressing negative electrode mixed material layer indicated that the pre-pressing negative electrode mixed material layer had better pressibility. For evaluations in Example and Comparative Example, the "density" of a negative electrode mixed material layer was calculated from the mass and thickness per unit area of the negative electrode mixed material layer.

The density D1 of the negative electrode mixed material layer of a negative electrode after the heating step was calculated. That negative electrode was stored at normal temperature and normal humidity for <NUM> weeks, and the density D2 of the negative electrode mixed material layer after the storage was calculated. The density retention rate (= D2 / D1 × <NUM> (%)) was calculated and evaluated according to the following criteria. A higher density retention rate indicated that a spring back of the negative electrode had been suppressed more satisfactorily.

A negative electrode after the pressing step was cut out into a rectangle of <NUM> in length by <NUM> in width to obtain a test piece. The test piece was placed with the surface of the negative electrode mixed material layer underneath, and cellophane tape was affixed to the surface of the negative electrode mixed material layer. Tape prescribed by JIS Z1522 was used as the cellophane tape. Moreover, the cellophane tape was fixed to a test bed. Thereafter, one end of the current collector was pulled vertically upward at a pulling speed of <NUM>/min to peel off the current collector, and the stress during this peeling was measured. This measurement was made three times and an average value of the stress was determined. The average value was taken to be a first peel strength. A greater first peel strength indicated that the negative electrode mixed material layer after the pressing step was more strongly adhered to the current collector.

A negative electrode after the heating step was cut out as a rectangle of <NUM> in length by <NUM> in width to obtain a test piece. Except that this test piece was employed, the stress was measured in the same manner as the section of "Peel strength (after pressing step)". This measurement was made three times and an average value of the stress was determined. The average value was taken to be a second peel strength. A greater second peel strength indicated that the negative electrode mixed material layer after the heating step was more strongly adhered to the current collector.

A reaction vessel was charged with <NUM> parts of deionized water, <NUM> parts of a sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate aqueous solution (concentration: <NUM>%) as an emulsifier, <NUM> parts of acrylonitrile as a nitrile group-containing monomer, <NUM> parts of styrene as an aromatic vinyl monomer, <NUM> parts of methacrylic acid as a carboxy group-containing monomer, and <NUM> parts of t-dodecyl mercaptan as a molecular weight modifier, in this order. Then, gas inside the reaction vessel was purged three times with nitrogen and then <NUM> parts of <NUM>,<NUM>-butadiene was added as an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer. Thereafter, <NUM> parts of cumene hydroperoxide as a polymerization initiator was added into the reaction vessel maintained at <NUM> to initiate a polymerization reaction, and the polymerization reaction was continued for <NUM> hours with stirring. Next, <NUM> parts of a hydroquinone aqueous solution (concentration: <NUM>%) as a polymerization terminator was added to terminate the polymerization reaction. Thereafter, a rotary evaporator of a water temperature of <NUM> was used to remove residual monomers and thereby obtain a water dispersion of a polymer A (particulate polymer). The THF-insoluble content of the polymer A was measured. The results are listed in Table <NUM>.

A reaction vessel was charged with <NUM> parts of deionized water, <NUM> parts of a sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate aqueous solution (concentration: <NUM>%) as an emulsifier, <NUM> parts of styrene as an aromatic vinyl monomer, <NUM> parts of itaconic acid as a carboxy group-containing monomer, and <NUM> parts of t-dodecyl mercaptan as a molecular weight modifier, in this order. Then, gas inside the reaction vessel was purged three times with nitrogen and then <NUM> parts of <NUM>,<NUM>-butadiene was added as an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer. Thereafter, <NUM> parts of potassium persulfate as a polymerization initiator was introduced into the reaction vessel maintained at <NUM> to initiate a polymerization reaction, and the polymerization reaction was continued with stirring. When the polymerization conversion rate reached <NUM>%, the reaction vessel was cooled. Next, <NUM> parts of a hydroquinone aqueous solution as a polymerization terminator (concentration: <NUM>%) was added to terminate the polymerization reaction. Thereafter, a rotary evaporator of a water temperature of <NUM> was used to remove residual monomers and thereby obtain a water dispersion of a polymer B (particulate polymer). The THF-insoluble content of the polymer B was measured. The results are listed in Table <NUM>.

A vessel was charged with a water dispersion of the polymer A and a water dispersion of the polymer B such that ratio of the polymer A to the polymer B (polymer A:polymer B) was <NUM>:<NUM> in solid content ratio. The vessel was stirred for <NUM> hour by a three-one motor to yield a binder composition.

A planetary mixer equipped with a disper blade was charged with <NUM> parts of artificial graphite (produced by Hitachi Chemical Co. ; product name: MAG-E) as a negative electrode active material, and <NUM> part in terms of solid content of a <NUM>% aqueous solution of carboxymethyl cellulose (produced by Nippon Paper Chemicals Co. ; product name: MAC-350HC) as a viscosity modifier to obtain a mixture. The resultant mixture was adjusted to a solid content concentration of <NUM>% with deionized water and was subsequently mixed for <NUM> minutes at <NUM>. Next, the mixture was adjusted to a solid content concentration of <NUM>% with deionized water and was then further mixed for <NUM> minutes at <NUM> to yield a mixed liquid. Deionized water and <NUM> parts in terms of solid content of the binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode were added to the resultant mixed liquid, and the final solid content concentration was adjusted to <NUM>%. Mixing was then continued for <NUM> minutes and then a defoaming process was carried out under reduced pressure to yield a slurry composition for non-aqueous secondary battery negative electrodes having good fluidity.

The obtained slurry composition for non-aqueous secondary battery negative electrodes was applied onto copper foil (current collector) of <NUM> in thickness using a comma coater and was dried such that the mass and the density per unit area of the negative electrode mixed material layer after being dried was <NUM>/cm<NUM> and <NUM>/cm<NUM>, respectively (application step and drying step). The applied slurry composition was dried by conveying the copper foil inside a <NUM> oven for <NUM> minutes at a speed of <NUM>/min. Thereafter, heat treatment was carried out for <NUM> minutes at <NUM> to obtain a negative electrode web prior to being subjected to a pressing step. The pressibility of an pre-pressing negative electrode mixed material layer was evaluated using that pre-pressing step negative electrode web. The results are listed in Table <NUM>.

The pre-pressing step negative electrode web was then rolled by a roll press (pressing temperature: <NUM>) to yield a post-pressing step negative electrode having a negative electrode mixed material layer with a density of <NUM>/cm<NUM> (pressing step). The peel strength (after pressing step) was evaluated using this post-pressing step negative electrode. The results are listed in Table <NUM>.

The post-pressing step negative electrode was then heated at <NUM> under a vacuum condition for <NUM> hours to yield a negative electrode the heating step (heating step). The peel strength (after heating step) was evaluated using this negative electrode after the heating step. The results are listed in Table <NUM>.

A slurry composition for non-aqueous secondary battery positive electrodes was obtained by combining <NUM> parts of LiCoO<NUM> having a volume average particle diameter of <NUM> as a positive electrode active material, <NUM> parts of acetylene black (produced by Denki Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha; product name: HS-<NUM>) as a conductive material, <NUM> parts in terms of solid content of polyvinylidene fluoride (produced by Kureha Corporation; product name: #<NUM>) as a binder, and N-methylpyrrolidone as a solvent such as to have a total solid content concentration of <NUM>%, and mixing these materials using a planetary mixer. These materials were mixed with a planetary mixer to yield a slurry composition for non-aqueous secondary battery positive electrodes.

The obtained slurry composition for non-aqueous secondary battery positive electrodes was applied onto aluminum foil (current collector) of <NUM> in thickness using a comma coater such that the mass per unit area of a positive electrode mixed material layer after being dried was <NUM>/cm<NUM>. The applied slurry composition was dried by conveying the aluminum foil inside a <NUM> oven for <NUM> minutes at a speed of <NUM>/min. Thereafter, heat treatment was carried out for <NUM> minutes at <NUM> to obtain a positive electrode web.

The resultant positive electrode web was rolled by a roll press to obtain a positive electrode including a positive electrode mixed material layer.

A single-layer polypropylene separator (produced by Celgard, LLC. ; product name: Celgard <NUM>) was cut out to <NUM> × <NUM> in size.

The post-pressing positive electrode that was obtained was cut out into a <NUM> × <NUM> rectangle and was placed with the surface at the positive electrode mixed material layer side of the positive electrode on top. The separator that had been cut out to <NUM> × <NUM> in size was placed on the positive electrode mixed material layer such that the positive electrode was positioned at the longitudinal direction left-hand side of the separator. The post-pressing negative electrode that was obtained was cut out as a <NUM> × <NUM> rectangle and was placed on the separator such that the surface at the negative electrode mixed material layer side of the negative electrode faced the separator and such that the negative electrode was positioned at the longitudinal direction right-hand side of the separator. The resultant laminate was wound by a winding machine to obtain a roll. This roll was enclosed in an aluminum packing case used as a battery case. An electrolyte solution (solvent: ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate/vinylene carbonate = <NUM>/<NUM>/<NUM> (volume ratio); electrolyte: LiPF<NUM> of <NUM> in concentration) was injected into the aluminum packing case such that no air remained, and then an opening of the aluminum packing case was heat sealed at <NUM> to close the aluminum packing case, and thereby produce a wound lithium ion secondary battery having a capacity of <NUM> mAh. This lithium ion secondary battery was then confirmed to operate normally.

A polymer A, a polymer B, a binder composition, a slurry composition, a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a separator, and a secondary battery were produced in the same manner as in Example <NUM> except that the blending ratio of the polymer A and the polymer B were modified as listed in Table <NUM>. The evaluations were then made in the same manner as in Example <NUM>. The results are listed in Table <NUM>.

A polymer A, a polymer B, a binder composition, a slurry composition, a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a separator, and a secondary battery were produced in the same manner as in Example <NUM>, except that the ratio of the monomers used was changed to thereby modify the composition as listed in Table <NUM> upon preparation of the polymer A. The evaluations were then made in the same manner as in Example <NUM>. The results are listed in Table <NUM>.

A polymer A, a slurry composition, a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a separator, and a secondary battery were produced in the same manner as in Example <NUM>, except that a water dispersion of the polymer A was used as a binder composition (in other words, no polymer B was used) upon preparation of the slurry composition. The evaluations were then made in the same manner as in Example <NUM>. The results are listed in Table <NUM>.

A polymer A, a polymer B, a binder composition, a slurry composition, a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a separator, and a secondary battery were produced in the same manner as in Example <NUM>, except that the heating temperature in the heating step was changed from <NUM> to <NUM> upon fabrication of the negative electrode. The evaluations were then made in the same manner as in Example <NUM>. The results are listed in Table <NUM>.

A polymer B, a slurry composition, a negative electrode, a positive electrode, a separator, and a secondary battery were produced in the same manner as in Example <NUM>, except that a water dispersion of the polymer B was used as a binder composition (in other words, no polymer A was used) upon preparation of the slurry composition. The evaluations were then made in the same manner as in Example <NUM>. The results are listed in Table <NUM>.

It can be observed from Table <NUM> that the negative electrodes having excellent peel strengths and the increased pressibilities of the pre-pressing negative electrode mixed material layers were produced in Examples <NUM> to <NUM> where the binder compositions used contained the polymer A including the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and the nitrile-group containing monomer unit, and had a THF-insoluble content of <NUM>% by mass or less. It can also be observed that the spring back of the negative electrodes was suppressed to satisfactory levels in Examples <NUM> to <NUM>.

In contrast, it can be observed from Table <NUM> that the pressibility of the pre-pressing negative electrode mixed material layer was how and the spring back of the negative electrode could not be suppressed satisfactorily in Comparative Example <NUM> where the binder composition used contained the polymer A including the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and the nitrile-group containing monomer unit, and had a THF-insoluble content of more than <NUM>% by mass.

It can also be observed from Table <NUM> that the pressibility of the pre-pressing negative electrode mixed material layer was low and the spring back of the negative electrode could not be suppressed satisfactorily in Comparative Example <NUM> where the binder composition used contained no polymer A and contained the polymer B including the aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and the aromatic vinyl monomer unit.

Claim 1:
A binder composition for a non-aqueous secondary battery electrode comprising:
a polymer A and a polymer B,
wherein the polymer A includes a carboxy group-containing monomer unit, an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and a nitrile-group containing monomer unit, and
the polymer A has a tetrahydrofuran-insoluble content of <NUM>% by mass or less,
the polymer B includes a carboxy group-containing monomer unit, an aliphatic conjugated diene monomer unit and an aromatic vinyl monomer unit, and
the polymer B has a tetrahydrofuran-insoluble content of more than <NUM>% by mass,
wherein the tetrahydrofuran-insoluble content of the polymers is determined as described in the Example "THF insoluble content" in the description.