Anode Slurry Preparation via Composite Particle Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary batteries face safety concerns due to high energy density, and existing anode materials like silicon alloys suffer from volume expansion and non-uniform distribution, leading to degraded cycle characteristics and lifetime.
Innovation Solution
A method for preparing an anode slurry by dispersing a conductive material in an aqueous binder with a semi-metal oxide or metal oxide, followed by mixing with a carbon material and a non-aqueous binder, using spray drying to enhance electrical conductivity and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If silicon or silicon alloy is used as anode active material to achieve high capacity, then battery capacity increases, but volume expansion occurs and cycle characteristics degrade
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite anode material consisting of silicon particles coated with carbon material and bound with binder. This composite structure allows the silicon to provide high capacity while the carbon coating and binder matrix constrain volume expansion and maintain structural integrity during cycling, thus improving cycle characteristics while maintaining high capacity.
2Reliability
If graphite is mixed with silicon alloy to reduce volume expansion, then cycle characteristics improve, but graphite distributes non-uniformly during mixing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the anode material into discrete particles, each consisting of silicon core with carbon coating and binder. This particle-level segmentation ensures uniform distribution throughout the electrode matrix, avoiding the non-uniform mixing problems associated with bulk graphite-silicon composites while maintaining the volume expansion mitigation benefits.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional mixing methods are used to prepare anode slurry, then manufacturing process is simple, but conductive material distributes non-uniformly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating silicon particles with carbon material and binder before mixing into the slurry. This pre-prepared composite particle structure ensures uniform distribution of conductive material throughout the electrode, as the coating is already uniformly applied at the particle level before electrode fabrication, combining manufacturing simplicity with distribution uniformity.
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
Improves electrical conductivity and extends the lifetime characteristics of secondary batteries, enabling higher capacity and safer operation by optimizing the distribution and adhesion of conductive materials within the anode active material.
Implementation Method 1
preparing a composite by dispersing a conductive material in an aqueous binder and then mixing with a semi metal oxide or metal oxide, wherein the preparing of the composite is performed by a spray drying method
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a composite and a method of preparing an anode slurry including the same. More particularly, the present invention provides a composite including a (semi) metal oxide, a conductive material on a surface of the (semi) metal oxide, and a binder, and a method of preparing an anode slurry including preparing a composite by dispersing a conductive material in an aqueous binder and then mixing with a (semi) metal oxide, and mixing the composite with a carbon material and a non-aqueous binder.