Non-aqueous Battery Coating via Gas Inhibitor

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for producing non-aqueous secondary batteries with oxalato complex-derived coatings on negative electrodes require a degassing step to manage gas formation during the activation process, which complicates the production process and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a polycarboxylic acid-based gas formation inhibitor into the negative electrode paste to reduce gas formation during the activation process, allowing for the omission of the degassing step and enabling the formation of an oxalato complex-derived coating on the negative electrode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a degassing step is added to discharge gas after aging, then the battery's internal pressure is reduced and safety is improved, but the production process complexity and manufacturing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery safetyVSAvoidproduction process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gas formation inhibitor is incorporated into the negative electrode paste before assembly, performing the gas inhibition action in advance during the activation process. This preliminary action prevents gas accumulation that would otherwise require subsequent degassing, thereby maintaining safety while simplifying the production process by eliminating the degassing step

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful effect of gas formation during activation into a beneficial outcome by using the gas formation inhibitor to suppress gas generation. The inhibitor transforms the problematic gas evolution process into a controlled reaction that forms a protective coating without significant gas accumulation, eliminating the need for degassing while maintaining battery safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If a degassing step is added to discharge gas after aging, then the battery's internal pressure is reduced, but the productivity and work efficiency decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinternal pressure controlVSAvoidproduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The gas formation inhibitor is incorporated into the negative electrode paste before assembly, performing the gas inhibition action in advance during the activation process. This preliminary action prevents gas accumulation that would otherwise require subsequent degassing, thereby maintaining safety while simplifying the production process by eliminating the degassing step

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts and removes the degassing step from the production process by preventing gas formation in the first place through the gas formation inhibitor. This extraction of the problematic step streamlines the production workflow and improves manufacturing efficiency while maintaining internal pressure control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If an oxalato complex is used to form a coating on the negative electrode, then the battery performance is improved, but gas formation increases during activation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery performanceVSAvoidgas formation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The gas formation inhibitor acts as an intermediary substance added to the negative electrode paste. It mediates between the oxalato complex coating formation process and gas generation, allowing the beneficial coating to form while suppressing the harmful gas evolution through chemical interaction during the activation process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the harmful effect of gas formation during activation into a beneficial outcome by using the gas formation inhibitor to suppress gas generation. The inhibitor transforms the problematic gas evolution process into a controlled reaction that forms a protective coating without significant gas accumulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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

This approach simplifies the production method, reduces gas formation, and maintains high battery performance and durability, achieving mass productivity with reduced costs and improved input/output performance.

Implementation Method 1

the oxalato complex undergoes reductive decomposition. A coating comprising the oxalato complex is then formed on the negative electrode surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectReductive decomposition: Reduction

Implementation Method 2

inhibiting gas formation by the effect of the gas formation inhibitor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas formation inhibition:

Data Source

PatentUS9680184B2Non-aqueous secondary battery and method for producing same

Publication Date: 2017.06.13 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

An easier method is provided for producing a battery comprising an oxalato complex-derived coating on the negative electrode. This invention provides a method for producing a non-aqueous secondary battery, the method comprising: preparing a negative electrode paste comprising a negative electrode active material, a binder, and a polycarboxylic acid-based gas formation inhibitor; fabricating a negative electrode by applying the negative electrode paste to a negative current collector surface; constructing an assembly with a positive electrode, the negative electrode, and a non-aqueous electrolyte solution comprising an oxalato complex; and subjecting the assembly to activation thereby to decompose the oxalato complex and forming a coating derived from the oxalato complex on the negative electrode surface while inhibiting gas formation with the gas formation inhibitor.