Secondary battery and method for managing secondary battery

Abstract

A secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an electrode assembly, a battery case provided to surround the electrode assembly and including a first metal, and a second metal electrically connected to the first metal and having a greater ionization tendency than the first metal.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a secondary battery and a method for managing a secondary battery. Background Technology

[0002] Research and development on power generation based on eco-friendly energy are underway to address the problem of worsening environmental pollution and to meet the demand for alternative energy sources resulting from the depletion of petroleum resources. In particular, research on secondary batteries is actively being conducted, covering various aspects such as materials, structure, processes, and stability.

[0003] The secondary battery may include a case that encloses an electrode assembly, and the case may include a metal member. For example, the case may be a pouch-type case, and the inner surface facing the electrode assembly may be made of a metal such as aluminum.

[0004] According to the prior art, if the metal inside the case oxidizes, defects such as moisture ingress or electrolyte leakage may occur. Accordingly, an appropriate management method is required. The problem to be solved

[0005] The problem that the present invention aims to solve is to provide a secondary battery and a method for managing the secondary battery that can intuitively determine the occurrence of defects. means of solving the problem

[0006] A secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an electrode assembly, a battery case provided to surround the electrode assembly and including a first metal, and a second metal electrically connected to the first metal and having a greater ionization tendency than the first metal.

[0007] A secondary battery management method according to one embodiment of the present invention may include a secondary battery preparation step of preparing a secondary battery comprising an electrode assembly, a battery case provided to surround the electrode assembly and including a first metal, and a second metal electrically connected to the first metal and having a greater ionization tendency than the first metal, and a verification step of verifying the degree of oxidation of the second metal. Effects of the invention

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the oxidation of a metal can be intuitively determined.

[0009] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, sealing defects can be identified intuitively and effectively.

[0010] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, durability and stability can be improved. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0011] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the degree of oxidation of a metal according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0012] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the attached drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily implement the present invention. However, the present invention may be embodied in various different forms and is not limited or restricted by the following embodiments.

[0013] In order to clearly explain the present invention, detailed descriptions of related prior art that are irrelevant to the explanation or that may unnecessarily obscure the essence of the invention have been omitted. Furthermore, when assigning reference numerals to the components of each drawing in this specification, identical or similar reference numerals are assigned to identical or similar components throughout the entire specification.

[0014] Furthermore, terms and words used in this specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to their ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be interpreted in a meaning and concept consistent with the technical spirit of the invention, based on the principle that the inventor can appropriately define the concept of the terms to best describe his invention.

[0015] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] The secondary battery (1) may include an electrode assembly (2). The electrode assembly (2) may be in a form in which a negative electrode and a positive electrode are alternately stacked with a separator. The electrode assembly (2) may be placed inside the secondary battery (1).

[0017] The secondary battery (1) may include an electrode lead (3). The electrode lead (3) may be connected to an electrode assembly (2). For example, the electrode lead (3) may be connected to both sides of the electrode assembly (2).

[0018] The secondary battery (1) may include a battery case (10). The battery case (10) may be provided to surround the electrode assembly (2) and may form the outer perimeter of the secondary battery (1). The battery case (10) may be a pouch-type case. The electrode leads (3) may protrude from both sides of the battery case (10).

[0019] The battery case (10) may include a terrace portion (11). The terrace portion (11) may be a predetermined area including the edge area of ​​the battery case (10).

[0020] A sealing portion (12) may be provided on the terrace portion (11). The sealing portion (12) may be formed along the edge of the battery case (10). By forming the sealing portion (12), the secondary battery (1) can be sealed.

[0021] The battery case (10) may include a first metal. For example, the battery case (10) may be formed by molding a pouch sheet, and the pouch sheet may be in the form of a metal layer including the first metal between an inner layer and an outer layer formed of a polymer. Specifically, for example, the first metal may be aluminum, but is not limited thereto.

[0022] The secondary battery (1) may include a second metal (20).

[0023] The second metal (20) may be a metal with a greater ionization tendency than the first metal. For example, if the first metal is aluminum, the second metal (20) may be magnesium. However, it is not limited thereto.

[0024] The second metal (20) can be electrically connected to the first metal.

[0025] The second metal (20) can be attached to the outside of the battery case (10). For example, the second metal (20) can be attached to the outside of the battery case (10) so that it can be visually confirmed from the outside of the secondary battery (1). The second metal (20) can be attached to the terrace portion (11) of the battery case (10).

[0026] The secondary battery (1) may include a conductive member (30).

[0027] The conductive member (30) can connect the first metal and the second metal (20). For example, one end (31) of the conductive member (30) can be connected to the battery case (10) and connected to the first metal, and the other end (32) can be connected to the second metal (20). Specifically, for example, one end (31) of the conductive member (30) can be connected to the terrace portion (11) (or sealing portion (12)) of the battery case (10). The first metal and the second metal (20) can be connected through the conductive member (30) connected to the terrace portion (11) (or sealing portion (12)).

[0028] One end (31) of the conductive member (30) may be connected to the first metal through a cut surface or hole of the battery case (10).

[0029] Since the ionization tendency of the second metal (20) is greater than that of the first metal and the first metal and the second metal (20) are electrically connected, the oxidation of the second metal (20) may occur before the oxidation of the first metal.

[0030] Since the oxidation of the second metal (20) occurs before the first metal, the internal corrosion of the secondary battery (1) can be confirmed by checking the oxidation of the second metal (20) before the internal oxidation of the battery case (10) occurs.

[0031] When the second metal (20) is attached to the outside of the battery case (10), the oxidation of the second metal (20) can be intuitively confirmed.

[0032] Specifically, if the sealing of the secondary battery (1) is not properly performed or a sealing defect occurs, whether the first metal on the inner side of the battery case (10) is oxidized and the degree of oxidation can be effectively checked through the second metal (20). Accordingly, the sealing defect of the secondary battery (1) can be checked intuitively and effectively.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a secondary battery according to another embodiment of the present invention. The description of the above-described embodiment may be applied to the present embodiment in the same or similar way.

[0034] A plurality of second metals (20a, 20b) may be provided in the secondary battery (1a). For example, a plurality of second metals (20a, 20b) may be arranged on opposite sides with respect to the electrode assembly (2).

[0035] Multiple conductive members (30a, 30b) may also be provided. Each conductive member (30a, 30b) can connect the second metal (20a, 20b) to the first metal of the battery case (10).

[0036] The arrangement of the second metal (20a, 20b) shown in FIG. 2 is an example, and the arrangement or number of the second metals is not particularly limited.

[0037] When multiple second metals (20a, 20b) are provided in the secondary battery (1a), the location and extent of sealing defects or internal oxidation can be determined more intuitively and quickly.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing the degree of oxidation of a metal according to one embodiment of the present invention. The description of the above-described embodiment may be applied to the present embodiment in the same or similar manner.

[0039] As described above, a second metal (20, 20a, 20b) may be attached to the secondary battery (1, 1a). The secondary battery (1, 1a) can be managed using the attached second metal (20, 20a, 20b).

[0040] A method for managing a secondary battery (1, 1a) may include a secondary battery preparation step.

[0041] The secondary battery preparation step may be a step of preparing a secondary battery comprising an electrode assembly (2, 2a), a battery case (10, 10a) provided to surround the electrode assembly (2, 2a) and a first metal, and a second metal (20, 20a, 20b) electrically connected to the first metal and having a greater ionization tendency than the first metal.

[0042] The management method of the secondary battery (1, 1a) may include a verification step.

[0043] The verification step may be a step of verifying the degree to which the second metal (20, 20a, 20b) is oxidized.

[0044] The above verification step may include a process of verifying the degree of oxidation of the second metal (20, 20a, 20b) attached to the outside of the battery case (10, 10a).

[0045] Since the oxidation of the second metal (20) occurs before the first metal due to the ionization tendency, internal corrosion of the secondary battery (1) can be confirmed by checking the oxidation of the second metal (20, 20a, 20b) before internal oxidation of the battery case (10) occurs. Accordingly, the oxidation of the first metal can be intuitively determined.

[0046] If the sealing of the secondary battery (1, 1a) is not properly performed or a sealing defect occurs, whether the first metal on the inner side of the battery case (10, 10a) is oxidized and the degree of oxidation can be effectively checked through the second metal (20, 20a, 20b). Accordingly, the sealing defect of the secondary battery (1) can be intuitively and effectively checked, and the durability and stability of the secondary battery (1) can be improved.

[0047] Although the present invention has been described above by limited embodiments and drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various implementations are possible within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention and the equivalent scope of the claims described below by those skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs. Explanation of the symbols

[0048] 1, 1a: Secondary battery 2, 2a: Electrode assembly 3, 3a: Electrode leads 10, 10a: Battery case 11, 11a: Terrace section 12, 12a: Sealing part 20, 20a: Second metal 20b: Second metal 30, 30a: Absence of conduction 30b: Absence of conduction 31, 31a: First 32, 32a: Other

Claims

Claim 1 A secondary battery comprising: an electrode assembly; a battery case provided to surround the electrode assembly and including a first metal; a second metal electrically connected to the first metal and having a greater ionization tendency than the first metal; and a conductive member having one end connected to the first metal and the other end connected to the second metal; wherein the battery case is in the form in which a metal layer including the first metal is laminated between an inner layer and an outer layer formed of a polymer, and includes a sealing portion provided on a terrace portion including an edge region, the conductive member is connected to the sealing portion, and the second metal is attached to the outside of the battery case. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 A secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the conductive member is connected to the terrace portion of the battery case where the first metal is exposed. Claim 6 In claim 1, the second metal is a secondary battery attached to the terrace portion of the battery case. Claim 7 delete Claim 8 In claim 1, the second metal is provided in a plurality of secondary batteries. Claim 9 A secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the first metal is aluminum and the second metal is magnesium. Claim 10 A secondary battery management method for managing a secondary battery according to claim 1, comprising: a secondary battery preparation step of preparing a secondary battery comprising an electrode assembly, a battery case provided to surround the electrode assembly and including a first metal, and a second metal electrically connected to the first metal and having a greater ionization tendency than the first metal; and a verification step of verifying the degree of oxidation of the second metal, wherein in the verification step, the oxidation of the first metal and the sealing defect of the sealing portion are verified through the degree of oxidation of the second metal. Claim 11 delete

Images