28/29 A n I n t r o d u c t i o n t o I T R I N A N O T E C H N O L O G Y

Nanostructure-enhanced High-Wettability Battery Separators High Thermal Conductivity Graphite Materials

With specially formulated polymers, a multiple bipolar nanostructure is introduced spontaneously on plasma-
treated non-woven fabrics. This surface modification technique improves the wettability as well as ion-
transportability across the porous polymer, resulting in properties much desired in high-quality battery
separators. The self-induced modification process is low in energy-usage, high-speed, and with much reduced
environmental impact. ITRI's technology has been successfully commercialized by a licensee who quickly
gained 7 percent world market share and expects to exceed 10 percent in 2003.
CPU
2003
A novel, nanotechnology-based graphite material has been developed by ITRI for a variety of heat dissipation
applications. It has equivalent or greater thermal conductivity than copper, with 1/9 the weight and is cloth-like
flexible, making it ideal for cooling in electronic applications. Field demonstrations with real notebook personal
computers (PC) have shown a significant drop in CPU temperature with such graphite sheet present, bringing about
the possibility of eliminating the cooling fan.
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High temperature
Separator Plasma Surface Treatment Process Chain extension graphiting process
With special formula of polymers, a Multiple Bipolar nanostructure are introduced
spontaneously on plasma treated non-woven fabric.
Forming light-weight flexible
Polymer precusors Oriented molecule
graphite structure

Preparation of high thermal conductivity graphite material

55
ITRI licensed this technology to Coin Chemical 50
industrial Co. (Coin) for the development and Notebook PC fan 45
production of NiH battery separators in 1999. module replaced 40

Temperature
by flexible high 35
World market share for Coin separators reached thermal conductivity 30
7~10 percent in 2002. graphite material 25

Sulfonation Grafting Acidification Fluorination Self-Assembled Nano Structure 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
(Japan) (England) (American, German) (MRL/ITRI) Removed Operation time (hr)
cooling fan
Absorption Rate (Wetting Height 40 mm) 0.41 mm/sec 0.47 mm/sec 0.23 mm/sec 0.46 mm/sec Surface of CPU
Surface of graphite on CPU
Graphite with 5 cm distance from CPU
Saturation Weight Ratio 270% 256% 216% 301%
Field trial of the elimination of CPU (PIII-750 MHz) cooling fan 2002/11
3C Discharge Cycle Life (Standard = 150Cycles) Pass Standard Pass Standard Below Superior with ITRI high thermal conductivity graphite material.
3C High Rate Discharge Smooth Smooth Poor Smooth 2002/11
Self - Discharge (Retention Capacity %) 80% 75~80% Poor 80%

Process Speed 1 m/min. 5 cm/min. 5 m/min. 5~10 m/min.

Thermal Conductivity Specific Application for Notebook PC
Energy Capacity 1175 mAh 1169 mAh Not Up to Standard 1177 mAh Material
(W/m*k) Gravity
Dimension Stability O.K. Poor O.K. Excellent
ITRI Graphite Sheet A 700 1.0 Keyboard
Shelf Life 2 yrs. 1.5 yrs. 2.5 yrs. 3 yrs. Main board
PGS
ITRI Graphite Sheet B 350~400 1.0
Internal Pressure Normal Normal Normal Normal Heat sink
Copper 398 8.9
Environmental Friendness Poor Poor Poor Excellent Case Bottom
Aluminum 237 2.7
Cost O.K. High Low Low
SiC 270 3.2 2002/11
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Materials Research Laboratories Union Chemical Laboratories