Flexible Thin-Film Anodeless Electrode for Uniform Lithium Deposition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current anodeless electrodes for all-solid-state secondary batteries face challenges such as energy density loss due to additional non-contributory layers, low mechanical flexibility leading to fatigue and cracking, and difficulty in achieving flexible power sources.
Innovation Solution
The development of an anodeless electrode comprising a current collector with a conductive flexible thin-film layer made of a combination of conductive polymer, soft polymer, and metal nanoparticles, which enhances mechanical flexibility and energy density while preventing non-uniform lithium deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If an additional layer is formed on the current collector to create an anodeless electrode, then energy density is improved by eliminating lithium or negative electrode materials, but energy density loss occurs due to the additional layer having thickness of several μm that does not contribute to capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a thin film layer with thickness of 1 μm or less on the current collector, which is flexible and conductive, allowing it to contribute minimally to overall battery thickness while maintaining electrical conductivity. This resolves the contradiction by reducing the non-contributory layer thickness to minimize energy density loss while still providing the necessary anodeless electrode structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thickness parameter of the additional layer from several μm to 1 μm or less, and modifies the material properties to be both flexible and conductive. This parameter optimization allows the layer to be thin enough not to significantly reduce energy density while still providing the functional benefits of an anodeless electrode structure.
2Quantity of substance
If a conventional anodeless electrode structure is used, then energy density is improved, but mechanical flexibility is reduced leading to fatigue, cracking, and breaking at the interface between solid electrolyte and electrode
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible thin film layer with thickness of 1 μm or less on the current collector. This flexible layer maintains mechanical flexibility and elasticity, preventing fatigue, cracking, and breaking at the interface between solid electrolyte and electrode during battery operation, while still achieving high energy density through the anodeless structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining the current collector with a flexible conductive thin film layer. This composite material approach provides both the mechanical flexibility needed to prevent interface failure and the electrical conductivity required for electrode function, resolving the contradiction between strength and energy density.
3Quantity of substance
If lithium metal is used as negative electrode material to achieve high capacity, then specific capacity is improved (about 3860 mAh/g), but stability deteriorates causing potential explosion and fire incidents
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts lithium from the negative electrode structure entirely, creating an anodeless electrode where the current collector serves as the negative electrode without lithium metal. This eliminates the safety issues of lithium metal (explosion and fire risks) while maintaining high specific capacity through the flexible thin film layer that enables efficient lithium ion insertion and extraction during charging and discharging.
4Quantity of substance
If lithium metal is used as negative electrode material, then high specific capacity is achieved, but dendrites are easily formed due to non-uniform deposition during charging and discharging
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible thin film layer provides a uniform surface for lithium ion deposition during charging, preventing non-uniform deposition and dendrite formation. The flexibility and thinness of the layer (1 μm or less) allow for even distribution of lithium ions across the electrode surface, maintaining stable composition and structure during cycling while achieving high specific capacity.
5Quantity of substance
If lithium metal is used as negative electrode material, then high specific capacity is achieved, but lifetime is reduced due to large lithium loss
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting lithium from the negative electrode structure and using an anodeless design, the patent eliminates the source of lithium loss that limits lifetime. The flexible thin film layer enables efficient and reversible lithium ion insertion and extraction without the large lithium loss associated with lithium metal electrodes, thereby achieving both high specific capacity and extended battery lifetime.
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 proposed anodeless electrode achieves stable charging/discharging behaviors, high specific capacity, and improved mechanical flexibility, reducing energy density loss and preventing lithium dendrite formation, thus enhancing the overall performance of all-solid-state secondary batteries.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive flexible thin-film layer which includes a conductive polymer, a soft polymer, and metal nanoparticles
Implementation Method 2
a conductive flexible thin-film layer which includes a conductive polymer, a soft polymer, and metal nanoparticles
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an anodeless electrode, and more particularly, to an anodeless electrode including a current collector, and a conductive flexible thin-film layer disposed on the current collector. The conductive flexible thin-film layer includes a conductive polymer, a soft polymer, and metal nanoparticles. The metal nanoparticles have a diameter of about 20 nm to about 100 nm, and are contained in an amount of about 20 wt % to about 50 wt % with respect to the sum of weights of the conductive polymer and the soft polymer.