Accelerated Intercalation Compound Formation in Battery Negative Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for forming negative electrodes with lithium intercalation compounds in lithium ion batteries and capacitors face challenges such as hazardous materials handling, rapid and exothermic reactions, and increased production costs due to the need for special environments and machinery, which affect energy density and cycle life.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a supplemental ion source electrically connected to the negative electrode, where the cell is filled with an organic electrolyte containing a lithium, potassium, or calcium salt, and electric current is discharged and reversed to accelerate the formation of intercalation compounds, leveraging low ion impedance between electrodes to enhance energy storage capacity and reduce equivalent series resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pre-doping methods are used to construct negative electrodes containing lithium intercalation compounds outside the cell, then the formation of intercalation compounds is achieved, but hazardous lithium metal powders require special handling and the process is rapid and exothermic producing harmful secondary compounds
Solution Approach 1:
A supplemental lithium ion source electrode is introduced as an intermediary component within the cell structure. This electrode serves as a controlled source of lithium ions that can gradually supply lithium to the negative electrode through the electrolyte, replacing the need for direct handling of hazardous lithium metal powders. The intermediary electrode enables controlled ion transfer while avoiding the exothermic reactions and harmful secondary compounds associated with direct pre-doping methods.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If negative electrodes containing lithium intercalation compounds are manufactured within the cells, then handling of hazardous materials is avoided, but the process interferes with specific capacity and equivalent series resistance and may be very slow
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental lithium ion source electrode is pre-installed within the cell structure before electrolyte filling. This preliminary arrangement ensures that lithium ions are immediately available in the electrolyte when the cell is activated, eliminating the slow formation process. The pre-positioned electrode enables rapid ion supply to the negative electrode without requiring extended formation time, thus improving productivity while maintaining safety.
3Productivity
If electrical power is applied to increase the speed of formation, then the formation process is accelerated and SEI layer formation is improved, but the lithium ion source and negative electrode must be submerged in electrolyte requiring contaminant-free environment or sealed three terminal cell
Solution Approach 1:
The supplemental lithium ion source electrode is electrically connected to the negative electrode through the existing two-terminal cell structure, merging the ion supply function with the standard electrode configuration. This integration allows electrical power to be applied through the normal cell terminals without requiring a separate third terminal or complex sealing arrangements. The merged structure simplifies the cell design while enabling accelerated formation through controlled electrical current that promotes both ion transfer and SEI layer formation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for the accelerated and controlled formation of lithium, potassium, or calcium intercalation compounds, improving energy storage capacity and reducing production costs by avoiding hazardous handling and environmental constraints, while maintaining high energy density and cycle life.
Implementation Method 1
accelerated formation of lithium, potassium, or calcium intercalation compounds
Implementation Method 2
discharging electric current from the positive electrode to the negative electrode
Implementation Method 3
filling the cell with an organic electrolyte containing a salt composed of the ion
Data Source
AI summary
A manufacturing method for the formation of lithium, potassium, and/or calcium intercalation compounds on a negative electrode for a battery or capacitor cell is disclosed. The battery or capacitor cell is constructed with a negative electrode that may contain graphitic carbon, silicon, metal oxide, and/or complex metal oxides and a lithium, potassium, and/or calcium ion source supplemental electrode. After construction of the cell, a method of controlled electrical contact is applied between the positive electrode and negative electrode to accelerate and regulate a process of ion exchange between the supplemental metal ion source electrode and the negative electrode which results in the formation of intercalation compounds within the negative electrode, and produces a battery or capacitor with a higher working voltage, high cycle life, and long DC life.