Battery Electrode Structure Using Layered Metal Sulfide Fillers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery electrodes with conductive aids and binders have low environmental resistance and limited lithium storage ability, restricting energy density and stability in harsh environments like aviation and space applications.
Innovation Solution
The use of a layered metal sulfide as a conductive aid, binder, and solid lubricant in the electrode active material layer, which includes active material particles and a current collector, enhances environmental resistance and energy density by providing high heat stability, radiation resistance, and improved cycle characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional binders and conductive aids are used in electrode manufacturing, then the electrode structure is stable and easy to manufacture, but the environmental resistance (radiation and heat resistance) is low and energy density is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes conventional organic binders and conductive aids from the electrode structure, extracting the harmful components that limit environmental resistance. The active material particles are directly formed into a compact layer without these additional components, eliminating the trade-off between structural stability and environmental resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the active material particles serve multiple functions simultaneously: they provide electrochemical activity, structural integrity, and conductive pathways. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate binder and conductive aid components, reducing device complexity while improving environmental resistance.
2Quantity of substance
If conductive aids and binders are included in the electrode, then the electrode is easier to manufacture with good structural integrity, but the lithium storage ability and energy density are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts non-lithium-containing components (conductive aids and binders) from the electrode structure, maximizing the proportion of lithium-containing active material. This increases the quantity of lithium storage sites per unit volume while maintaining manufacturability through direct formation processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the manufacturing approach from slurry coating to direct formation of compact layers. This parameter change in the manufacturing process enables high lithium density electrodes without requiring conventional binders, as the direct formation process inherently provides structural integrity.
3Quantity of substance
If binder-free electrodes are used to improve lithium storage ability, then energy density increases, but the electrode material requires electrodeposition which cannot form large-capacitive lithium transition metal oxide films
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrodeposition process with a mechanical compression or direct formation process. This substitution allows the formation of compact layers from large-capacitive lithium transition metal oxides that cannot be deposited as films, while maintaining the binder-free structure for high energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and processing method of the active material from deposited films to compacted particles or sintered structures. This parameter change enables the use of large-capacitive materials that form dense, binder-free electrodes with high energy density through compression or sintering processes.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are: an electrode and a method for producing the same, with which it is possible to produce a primary battery or a secondary battery having excellent characteristics such as environment resistance; and a battery provided with the electrode. This electrode is for a primary battery or a secondary battery, and comprises a current collector and an active material layer provided on the surface of the current collector. The active material layer is composed of: a plurality of active material particles; and a layered metal sulfide for filling portions between the plurality of active material particles.