Aqueous LTO Negative Electrode Slurry With High Solid Content

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aqueous negative electrode slurries for lithium secondary batteries containing lithium titanium oxide (LTO) face challenges with increased viscosity, which necessitates reducing solid content, leading to reduced battery capacity and manufacturing issues, especially when using aqueous solvents.

Innovation Solution

A negative electrode slurry with a high solid content is achieved by using lithium titanium oxide in the form of secondary particles and a carboxylic acid-containing polymer dispersant, which effectively disperses the LTO in an aqueous solvent, maintaining appropriate viscosity and preventing particle agglomeration, thereby enhancing battery performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the particle size of lithium titanium oxide is decreased to obtain high output, then the Li-ion diffusion rate improves, but the viscosity of the negative electrode slurry increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveLi-ion diffusion rateVSAvoidslurry viscosity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the particle size parameter of lithium titanium oxide to a specific range (D50: 0.5-1.5 μm) to optimize the balance between Li-ion diffusion rate and slurry viscosity, achieving high output without excessive viscosity increase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a dispersant as an intermediary substance to reduce slurry viscosity caused by fine lithium titanium oxide particles, enabling better processability while maintaining high Li-ion diffusion rates

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the solid content of the negative electrode slurry is reduced to address viscosity problems, then the slurry viscosity decreases, but the battery capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslurry viscosityVSAvoidbattery capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the solid content parameter to a specific range (30-60 wt%) to simultaneously achieve acceptable slurry viscosity and high battery capacity, resolving the trade-off between processability and performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If aqueous solvent is used in the negative electrode slurry to protect the environment and reduce manufacturing costs, then environmental friendliness and cost improve, but the slurry viscosity increases compared to non-aqueous solvents

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidslurry viscosity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dispersant as an intermediary to mitigate the viscosity increase caused by using aqueous solvents, enabling environmental-friendly and cost-effective manufacturing while maintaining processability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the particle size parameter of lithium titanium oxide to control slurry viscosity, enabling the use of aqueous solvents without excessive viscosity problems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution allows for a high solid content in the negative electrode slurry, increasing battery capacity and reducing viscosity, leading to improved manufacturing processability and enhanced lithium ion diffusion rates, resulting in better charge/discharge characteristics and stability.

Implementation Method 1

a carboxylic acid-containing polymer dispersant, which effectively disperses the LTO in an aqueous solvent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDispersion: Dispersion (of waves)

Implementation Method 2

lithium titanium oxides having a high Li intercalation/deintercalation potential... excellent rapid charging... Li metal is not deposited at a Li intercalation/deintercalation potential

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon diffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP3770997B1Negative electrode slurry for lithium secondary battery, and preparation method thereof
Publication Date: 2024.02.21 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to a negative electrode slurry and a method of preparing the same. The negative electrode slurry includes lithium titanium oxide (LTO), a carboxylic acid-containing polymer dispersant, a binder, and an aqueous solvent, wherein the carboxylic acid-containing polymer dispersant has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of 2,500 g/mol to 500,000 g/mol and is included in an amount of 1.5 parts by weight to 20 parts by weight with respect to 100 parts by weight of the lithium titanium oxide.