The first binder is formed of the same polymeric material as the second binder. The first binder covers a portion of the second main surface of the porous self-supporting film. The first and second binders exist at an interface between the porous self-supporting film and the solid electrolyte layer and integrate the porous self-supporting film and the solid electrolyte layer with each other. In addition, the first binder enhances the adhesion between the porous self-supporting film and the active material-containing layer. The fact that the first binder is formed of the same polymeric material as the second binder and exists on the second main surface of the porous self-supporting film can be confirmed by analyzing the main surface of the solid electrolyte layer and the second main surface of the porous self-supporting film by the microscopic ATR (Attenuated Total Reflection) method.
The first binder may exist on an inner wall of a pore of the porous self-supporting film. This can be confirmed by performing SEM observation on the second main surface of the porous self-supporting film. The first binder may have a concentration gradient such that the abundance ratio decreases as going from the first main surface to the second main surface of the porous self-supporting film.
Next, a method of manufacturing a separator will be described.
First, solid electrolyte particles, a polymeric material, and a solvent are mixed to obtain a solution mixture. In the solution mixture, the mass ratio of the solid electrolyte particles and the polymeric material is preferably set to 50:50 to 98:2. Note that an electrolyte salt may be optionally added to the solution mixture. In this case, in the solution mixture, the mass ratio of the solid electrolyte particles, the polymeric material, and the electrolyte salt is preferably set to 50:40:10 to 96:2:2.