Cylindrical Anode-Free Solid-State Battery with Anti-Dendrite Gel Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium ion batteries are prone to dendrite formation during charging, which can lead to short circuits, overheating, and potential fire due to the nucleation of lithium ions on the anode surface, especially in anode-free solid-state batteries.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an anti-dendrite layer between the anode current collector and cathode layer, combined with a lithium gel separator layer, to decrease nucleation energy and promote even lithium deposition across the anode surface, while using a polymer and cross-linker additive to convert the electrolyte into a gel state, enhancing adhesion and inhibiting dendrite growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If lithium ions are allowed to plate onto the anode surface during charging, then the battery can store more energy, but dendrites form and cause short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
An anti-dendrite layer is introduced as an intermediary between the anode current collector and the electrolyte. This layer mediates the lithium ion deposition process by providing a controlled interface that promotes uniform plating while preventing dendrite formation, thus enabling high energy storage without compromising safety
Solution Approach 2:
The surface properties of the anode are modified by changing the material composition and surface morphology of the anti-dendrite layer. This parameter change affects the nucleation energy and growth kinetics of lithium deposits, transforming the deposition behavior from dendritic to uniform, thereby allowing high capacity operation without short circuits
2Reliability
If an anti-dendrite layer is added to prevent dendrite growth, then battery safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-dendrite layer is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as a protective barrier against dendrites, a platform for uniform lithium deposition, and potentially as part of the active material system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
3Reliability
If lithium ions plate evenly across the anode surface, then dendrite formation is reduced, but nucleation energy requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The anti-dendrite layer creates local variations in surface properties across the anode interface. By designing specific regions with different nucleation characteristics, the layer guides lithium ions to deposit uniformly across the surface while maintaining energetically favorable conditions for nucleation, thus preventing dendrites without excessive energy requirements
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
The anti-dendrite layer and lithium gel separator effectively inhibit dendrite growth, ensuring safe and efficient lithium ion movement, reducing the risk of short circuits and improving battery performance by promoting uniform lithium deposition.
Implementation Method 1
The liquid electrolyte mixture may permeate the dry separator layer and the liquid electrolyte mixture may comprise a salt and a solvent
Implementation Method 2
The heat at least in part may cause the liquid electrolyte mixture that permeates the dry separator layer to become a gel
Implementation Method 3
During charging of a lithium ion battery, lithium ions migrate from battery's cathode to the battery's anode through a separator located between the cathode and anode. Through a process called intercalation, lithium ions become inserted into the material functioning as the anode
Implementation Method 4
During this charging process, lithium ions may also plate onto a surface of the anode facing the separator
Data Source
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Figure 3A
AI summary
Various arrangements for creating a cylindrical anti-dendrite anode-free solid-state battery are presented. An anti-dendrite layer may be layered between an anode current collector layer and the cathode layer. A layered stack may be created that comprises a dry separator layer, a cathode layer layered with a cathode current collector layer, and the anti-dendrite layer layered with the anode current collector layer. The layered stack may be rolled into a cylindrical jelly roll. The rolled layered stack may be inserted into a pouch. A liquid electrolyte mixture may be added into the pouch. The liquid electrolyte mixture can permeate the dry separator layer. Heat can be applied to the pouch that causes the liquid electrolyte mixture to become a gel. The rolled layered stack can then be removed from the pouch and inserted into a cylindrical battery cell canister.