Lithium-Ion Battery Electrolyte Additives for Capacity Restoration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion batteries experience capacity loss due to imbalance in open circuit potential between the positive and negative electrodes, which existing methods attempt to restore by adding additives to the electrolyte solution after capacity loss is detected, requiring battery opening and potentially degrading performance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an additive with an oxidation potential higher than the positive electrode's potential into the electrolyte solution before capacity loss occurs, allowing for capacity restoration treatment outside the battery's operating SOC range, thereby avoiding the need to open the battery and minimizing performance degradation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an additive with oxidation potential within the operating SOC range is added to restore capacity, then the additive can be oxidized to restore OCP balance, but the battery must be opened which degrades performance and requires time-consuming work
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating the additive into the electrolyte solution before the battery is sealed and before capacity loss occurs. The additive remains dormant during normal operation and only activates when capacity loss is detected, automatically performing the restoration function without requiring the battery to be opened.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by designing the additive to automatically oxidize and restore OCP balance when capacity loss is detected, without requiring external intervention or battery opening. The battery system restores its own capacity through the additive's automatic activation during charging.
2Reliability
If the additive oxidation potential is set within the operating SOC range, then the additive can be oxidized during normal charging, but the additive is consumed during normal use and cannot restore capacity when capacity loss is detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by setting the additive's oxidation potential higher than the positive electrode potential at 100% SOC, placing it outside the normal operating range. This parameter adjustment ensures the additive remains stable during normal charging cycles and only oxidizes when the battery is charged beyond 100% SOC, preserving the additive for capacity restoration purposes.
3Reliability
If the battery is opened to add the capacity-restoring agent, then the additive can be introduced to the electrolyte solution, but time is lost and battery components deteriorate due to air exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by incorporating the additive into the electrolyte solution before the battery is sealed during manufacturing. This preliminary incorporation eliminates the need to open the battery later for additive introduction, saving time and preventing component deterioration from air exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by designing the system to automatically activate the pre-incorporated additive when capacity loss is detected, eliminating the need for manual intervention, battery opening, and re-sealing operations.
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
Enables continuous capacity restoration without opening the battery, maintaining performance and extending the battery's usable life by oxidizing the additive outside the normal operating range, thus maintaining OCP balance and restoring capacity.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating an additive with an oxidation potential higher than the positive electrode's potential into the electrolyte solution before capacity loss occurs, allowing for capacity restoration treatment outside the battery's operating SOC range
Implementation Method 2
The electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt, a solvent, and an additive
Data Source
AI summary
(A) A first lithium-ion battery is prepared. (B) A capacity loss of the first lithium-ion battery is detected. (C) Capacity restoration treatment is performed on the first lithium-ion battery having a detected capacity loss to produce a second lithium-ion battery. The first lithium-ion battery includes at least a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte solution. The electrolyte solution contains a lithium salt, a solvent, and an additive in advance of the detecting a capacity loss. The additive has an oxidation potential. The oxidation potential is higher than an OCP of the positive electrode in the first lithium-ion battery having a state of charge of 100%. The capacity restoration treatment involves charging the first lithium-ion battery in such a way that at least part of the additive is oxidized.