Separator and electrochemical device comprising the same

1. A separator comprising inorganic particles having either or both of a unique spectrum and color pattern according to a predetermined rule, wherein either or both of the spectrum and the color pattern of the separator allow identification of the origin or kind of the separator itself or an electrochemical device comprising the same separator, wherein the inorganic particles are subjected to surface treatment with a dye having either or both a unique spectrum and color pattern.

2. The separator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inorganic particles are selected from the group consisting of:

(i) inorganic particles having a unique spectrum or color pattern in the visible light range;

(ii) inorganic particles having a unique spectrum or color pattern in the non-visible light range; or

(iii) inorganic particles having a unique spectrum or color pattern under a specific chemical condition.

3. The separator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inorganic particles are selected from the group consisting of Al 2 O 3 , ZnO, ZnS, SiO 2 , ZrO 2 , SnO 2 , CeO 2 , MgO, CaO, Y 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , Sb 2 O 3 , BaTiO 3 , SrTiO 3 , Pb(Zr,Ti)O 3 (PZT) , Fe 3 O 4 , (Co, Ni)O—(Cr, Fe) 2 O 3 , PbCrO 4 , ZnCrO4, BaCrO 4 , CdS, FeO(OH)nH 2 O, TiO 2 —NiO—Sb 2 O 3 , Pb(CN) 2 , Ca 2 PbO 4 , Al, Fe, Sn-2PbO—Sb 2 O 5 , V—SnO 2 , V—ZrO 2 ,Pr—ZrSiO 4 , CrSbO 4 or Cr 2 WO 6 —TiO 2 , ZrSO 4 coated CdS or (CdZn)S, PbCrO 4 PbO, PbCrO 4 PbMoO 4 , PbSO 4 , Fe 2 O 3 +FeO, Fe 2 O 3 +MnO 2 +Mn 3 O 4 , ZnO.(Al, Cr, Fe) 2 O 3 , Fe 2 O 3 , Pb 3 O 4 , HgS, CdS+CdSe, CdS+HgS, 2 Sb 2 S 3 Sb 2 O 3 , Co 3 (PO 4 ) 2 , CO 3 (PO 4 ) 2 4H 2 O, CO 3 (PO 4 ) 2 8H 2 O, 3NaAl SiO 4 Na 2 S 2 , Fe 4 [Fe (CN 6 ) 3 ] nH 2 O, CoO nAl 2 O 3 , CoO nSnO 2 mMgO (n=1.5˜3.5, m=2˜6), Co 3 O 4 +SiO 2 +Al 2 O 3 +Fe 2 O 3 +NiO+MnO, CoO-nAl 2 O 3 or (Co, Zn) O-nAl 2 O 3 , 2(Co, Zn)O.SiO 2 ,V—ZrSiO 4 , Cr 2 O 3 , Cr 2 O(OH) 4 , Cu(CH 3 CO 2 ) 2 3CuO(AsO 2 ) 2 , CoO—ZnO—MgO, (Co, Zn)O.(Al, Cr) 2 O 3 , 3CaO—Cr 2 O 3 .3SiO 2 , (Al, Cr) 2 O 3 , Sb—SnO 2 , Co,Ni—ZrSiO 4 , Mn,P-α-Al 2 O 3 , ZnO.(Al, Cr) 2 O 3 , Cr—CaO.SnO 2 .SiO 2 , Fe—ZrSiO 4 , Cr,Co—CaO.SnO 2 .SiO 2 , ZrSiO 4 coated Cd(S,Se), ZnS, Zn 2 SiO 4 , (Zn,Cd)S, CaS, SrS, CaWO 4 , SiC, and Si 3 N 4 .

4. The separator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inorganic particles have a size of 0.001 μm to 10 μm.

5. The separator as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising polymers capable of interconnecting and fixing the inorganic particles.

6. The separator as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the polymers have a solubility parameter of 15˜45 MPa 1/2 .

7. The separator as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the polymers are selected from the group consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene, polyvinylidene fluoride-co-trichloroethylene, polymethylmethacrylate, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyvinylacetate, polyethylene-co-vinyl acetate, polyethylene oxide, cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate propionate, cyanoethylpullulan, cyanoethylpolyvinylalcohol, cyanoethylcellulose, cyanoethylsucrose, pullulan, carboxyl methyl cellulose, acrylonitrile-styrene-butadiene copolymer, and polyimide.

8. The separator as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the inorganic particles and polymers are used in a weight ratio of 10:90 to 99:1.

9. The separator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the separator comprises an inorganic particle-containing layer on at least one area of the separator selected from the group consisting of a surface of a porous substrate and a porous part of the substrate.

10. The separator as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the porous substrate is made of at least one selected from the group consisting of high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, linear low density polyethylene, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethyleneterephthalate, polybutyleneterephthalate, polyester, polyacetal, polyamide, polycarbonate, polyimide, polyetheretherketone, polyethersulfone, polyphenyleneoxide, polyphenylenesulfidro, and polyethylenenaphthalene.

11. The separator as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the separator has a porous structure formed due to the interstitial volume between the inorganic particles, the inorganic particles being physically interconnected and fixed to each other.

12. The separator as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the inorganic particles are physically interconnected and fixed to each other by polymers.

13. A method for manufacturing the separator as defined in claim 1 , the method comprising a step of forming a specific pattern by coating inorganic particles having either or both a unique spectrum and color pattern on at least one area selected from the group consisting of a surface of a porous substrate and a porous part of the substrate.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the coating is carried out by a sputtering method.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising a step of detaching the porous substrate or detaching the porous substrate and compressing, after forming a specific pattern.

16. An electrochemical device comprising an anode, a cathode, and the separator as defined in claim 1 .

17. A method for identifying the separator of claim 1 or an electrochemical device comprising the separator comprising a step of checking either or both of a unique spectrum and color pattern of the separator.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the step of checking utilizes a sensor.

19. A method for manufacturing a separator comprising an inorganic particles having either or both a unique spectrum and color pattern according to a predetermined rule, wherein either or both of the spectrum and the color pattern of the separator allow identification of the origin or kind of the separator itself or an electrochemical device comprising the same separator, the method comprising a step of forming a specific pattern by coating inorganic particles having either or both a unique spectrum and color pattern on at least one area selected from the group consisting of a surface of a porous substrate and a porous part of the substrate.