Separator having no separator substrate and electrochemical device including the same
Disclosed herein is a separator for electrochemical devices, configured to guarantee electrical insulation between a positive electrode and a negative electrode, wherein the separator includes no polyolefin substrate, and includes inorganic particles, a binder for coupling between the inorganic particles, and a crosslinking agent.
1. A method of manufacturing a separator comprising:
preparing a slurry comprising inorganic particles, a binder, and a crosslinking agent wherein the slurry does not include a polyolefin substrate,
forming a shape of a separator using the slurry,
conducting a crosslinking reaction at 120° C. to 160° C. to produce a separator, and
drying the separator,
wherein the crosslinking agent comprises a polymer material represented by Formula 1 having a weight average molecular weight of 1,000 to 100,000:
wherein in Formula 1, x is an integer of 1 to 100, y is an integer of 0 to 30, z is an integer of 1 to 1,000, and p is an integer which varies depending on the weight average molecular weight.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the slurry further comprises an initiator for a crosslinking reaction of the crosslinking agent, wherein the initiator is an azo-based compound or a peroxide-based compound.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the azo-based compound is at least one selected from among 2,2′-azobis(2-methylbutyronitrile), 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile), 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), and 2,2′-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile).