Anode-Solid Electrolyte Assembly With Lithium Uptake Rooms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solid-state secondary batteries face challenges in achieving high energy density and stable performance due to thickness changes and volume expansion during lithium deposition, which affects their cycle characteristics and lifetime.

Innovation Solution

The development of an anode-solid electrolyte sub-assembly that includes an anode current collector, a solid electrolyte with uptake rooms for lithium storage, an interlayer with high ionic and electronic conductivity, and an insulation layer to inhibit lithium deposition outside the uptake rooms, thereby minimizing stress and maintaining battery thickness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If lithium is used as anode active material to increase energy density, then capacity density increases 10 times compared to graphite, but thickness change and volume expansion occur during charging/discharging causing stress

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapacity densityVSAvoidthickness stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The solid electrolyte is divided into multiple uptake rooms (storage spaces) that are distributed throughout the electrolyte layer. These segmented storage spaces allow lithium to be deposited in a distributed manner rather than concentrated in one location, reducing local volume expansion stress while maintaining high capacity density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The uptake rooms are nested within the solid electrolyte structure itself, creating a hierarchical configuration where storage spaces are embedded in the electrolyte matrix. This nested design allows the electrolyte to accommodate lithium deposition internally without external expansion, maintaining thickness stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Use of energy by moving object

If flammable organic solvents are used in lithium-ion batteries, then ionic conductivity is improved, but safety risk increases due to fire and explosion hazards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveionic conductivityVSAvoidfire risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The electrolyte phase is changed from liquid to solid state, fundamentally altering the physical parameters of the electrolyte. This phase change eliminates the flammability issue inherent in liquid organic solvents while maintaining ionic conductivity through the solid electrolyte material's intrinsic properties.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The battery uses a composite structure combining solid electrolyte material with electrode components. This composite design replaces the flammable liquid electrolyte-composite system with a solid-state composite that provides both ionic conductivity and fire safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Device complexity

If anodeless solid-state battery is used to simplify structure, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but energy density and lifetime performance are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidenergy density
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a conventional anode structure, the battery employs segmented uptake rooms distributed in the solid electrolyte. These discrete storage spaces provide lithium deposition sites while maintaining a simplified overall structure, achieving both low complexity and high energy density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a two-dimensional electrode surface deposition model to a three-dimensional volumetric deposition model within the uptake rooms. This dimensional change allows significantly higher energy density while maintaining structural simplicity through the embedded room configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 allows for zero-stress lithium deposition, maintaining battery thickness and improving high-rate characteristics, leading to enhanced energy density and prolonged battery life, potentially increasing energy density up to 800 Wh/L.

Implementation Method 1

The interlayer may contain an interlayer forming material having an ionic conductivity of about 10^-8 to about 10^-6 S/cm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIonic conductivity: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

The lithium may be deposited in a direction from the interlayer to the solid electrolyte as lithium ions migrate from a cathode when charging

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLithium ion migration and deposition: Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP4343882B1Anode-solid electrolyte sub-assembly for solid-state secondary battery, solid-state secondary battery including anode-solid electrolyte sub-assembly, and method of preparing anode-solid electrolyte sub-assembly
Publication Date: 2025.06.18 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4343882B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4343882B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4343882B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed are an anode-solid electrolyte sub-assembly for a solid-state secondary battery, a solid-state secondary battery including the same, and a method of preparing the same, wherein the anode-solid electrolyte sub-assembly includes an anode current collector; a solid electrolyte having a first portion with a plurality of uptake rooms providing space for storing lithium, and a second portion without uptake rooms; an interlayer disposed between the anode current collector and the first portion of the solid electrolyte and facing an opening of the uptake rooms; and an insulation layer disposed between the anode current collector and the second portion of the solid electrolyte.