Activatable Battery Using Carbon Nanotube Cathode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing activatable lithium thionyl chloride batteries are complex and costly to manufacture, and they require a significant time to provide a desired voltage and current after activation due to the use of elemental carbon cathodes, which is a limitation for applications like electronic detonators that require rapid energy delivery.
Innovation Solution
The use of a carrier-free carbon nanotube foil as the cathode, which is easy to process and provides a large surface area, combined with a liquid electrolyte that connects the anode and cathode through an absorbent separator layer, allowing for rapid activation and energy release, and the possibility of connecting multiple electrode cells in parallel or series to enhance performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If elemental carbon cathode is used in activatable battery, then manufacturing complexity increases and activation time increases, but battery reliability is maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the cathode material from conventional elemental carbon to carbon nanotubes. This parameter change results in a material with inherently higher electrical conductivity and larger surface area, eliminating the need for complex sintering and grinding processes while enabling rapid electron transfer and reducing activation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs carbon nanotubes as a composite material structure that combines the benefits of high electrical conductivity, large surface area, and mechanical flexibility. This composite material approach replaces traditional elemental carbon while simplifying manufacturing processes and improving activation characteristics.
2Device complexity
If elemental carbon cathode is used, then battery manufacturing becomes more complex, but structural stability is ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the structural parameters of the cathode by using carbon nanotubes with their unique tubular geometry and crystalline structure. This parameter change inherently provides structural stability through the strong sp2 bonds in the nanotube walls, eliminating the need for complex binding agents and sintering processes required for elemental carbon.
3Ease of manufacture
If carrier-free carbon nanotube film is used as cathode, then manufacturing simplicity and surface area increase, but electrode structural support is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin film structure made of carbon nanotubes that serves as both the active electrode material and the structural support. The film's flexibility and mechanical strength are sufficient for battery applications, eliminating the need for additional carrier substrates while simplifying manufacturing and increasing surface area.
Solution Approach 2:
The carbon nanotube film itself forms a self-supporting composite structure where the interconnected nanotube network provides both electrical conductivity and mechanical strength, replacing the need for separate carrier materials and reducing overall electrode complexity.
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 configuration results in a simpler, cost-effective battery with rapid voltage build-up and energy delivery, suitable for applications requiring immediate power, such as electronic detonators, with improved performance and flexibility in design.
Implementation Method 1
at least one absorbent separator layer arranged between the anode and cathode and in contact with both
Implementation Method 2
the electrolyte... penetrates it at least to such an extent that the electrolyte electrically connects the anode and cathode
Implementation Method 3
The cathode consists of a carrier-free film comprising carbon nanotubes... two contact points, in particular two laterally separated contact points
Implementation Method 4
creates an electrochemical cell comprising the cathode, the separator layer, and the anode, also known as a galvanic cell or electrode cell
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to an activatable battery (10) with at least one cathode (26), at least one anode (22), at least one absorbent separator layer (24) arranged between the anode (22) and the cathode (26) and in contact with the anode (22) and the cathode (26), and a liquid electrolyte (17) separated therefrom, which is provided in a device which releases the electrolyte (17) for activating the battery in such a way that it comes into contact with the separator layer (24) and penetrates it at least to such an extent that the electrolyte (17) electrically connects the anode (22) and the cathode (26), wherein the anode (22) consists of lithium or a lithium-containing alloy and the cathode (26) comprises elemental carbon, wherein the cathode (26) consists of a carbon nanotube-encompassing or carbon nanotube-based foil.