3D Conductive Network Electrode Plate for Higher Active Material Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lithium battery electrode plates face challenges in optimizing energy density due to excessive conductive agents, which reduce active material content and complicate distribution and morphology control, leading to inhibited battery performance.
Innovation Solution
The development of an electrode plate with a three-dimensional conductive network base, where the actual volume of the conductive network base and electrode active material satisfy a specific relational expression, optimizing the conductive network and enhancing energy density and capacity retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an excessive amount of conductive agent is added to ensure electronic conductivity, then the conductivity of the electrode plate is improved, but the active material content is reduced, thereby inhibiting the energy density function of the battery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the conductive agent from the traditional slurry mixture and forms it into a separate three-dimensional conductive network base. This network base is then used as a scaffold to load the active material, allowing the conductive agent to be minimized to just enough for the network structure rather than being added in excessive amounts to the slurry. This resolves the contradiction by separating the conduction function from the active material content.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive network base is designed with a three-dimensional porous structure that provides conductive pathways while creating void spaces for loading active material. This porous structure allows the conductive agent to form an efficient network with minimal volume, maximizing the space available for active material without compromising conductivity.
2Reliability
If an excessive amount of conductive agent is added, then the conductivity is improved, but the distribution and morphology of the conductive agent become difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive agent is segmented into discrete elements (such as carbon black particles, carbon nanotubes, or graphene flakes) that are distributed throughout the three-dimensional network base. This segmentation allows for controlled distribution and morphology, as each element can be individually positioned or uniformly distributed within the network structure, avoiding the uncontrolled aggregation that occurs with excessive conductive agent addition.
Solution Approach 2:
The three-dimensional porous network base provides a structured framework that controls the distribution and morphology of the conductive agent. The porous structure guides the arrangement of conductive elements, ensuring uniform distribution and appropriate morphology without requiring excessive amounts of conductive agent.
3Quantity of substance
If the surface density, compaction density, and mass ratio of electrode active materials are increased to improve energy density and power, then the energy density is improved, but the electronic conductivity and capacity retention are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar electrode structure to a three-dimensional conductive network base. This dimensional change allows the active material to be loaded throughout the volume of the network rather than just on the surface, enabling high active material content while maintaining conductive pathways in multiple directions. This resolves the contradiction by providing conductivity in three dimensions rather than relying on surface-level conductive agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode plate is designed as a composite structure combining the three-dimensional conductive network base with the active material. This composite architecture ensures that the conductive network and active material work synergistically, maintaining electronic conductivity even at high active material densities and compaction levels that would otherwise compromise conductivity in conventional structures.
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode plate includes an electrode active material layer. The electrode active material layer includes a three-dimensional conductive network base, and an electrode active material and a binder that are loaded on the three-dimensional conductive network base. The three-dimensional conductive network base and the electrode active material satisfy a relational expression below:d×6D2×(mρ/πD36)≤V≤(D3-πD36)×(mρ/πD36)where V is an actual volume of the three-dimensional conductive network base, whose unit is cm3; m is mass of the electrode active material, whose unit is g; D is a D50 particle size of the electrode active material, whose unit is μm; ρ is true density of the electrode active material, whose unit is g/cm3; and d is a thickness of a single layer carbon atoms with a value of d is 0.334 nm.