Secondary Battery Fabrication via Electrolyte Dripping and Vacuum Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current secondary battery fabrication methods are inefficient, prone to lithium ion diffusion, and difficult to automate, leading to high manufacturing costs and variability in battery properties.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the precise dripping of electrolyte onto electrodes and separators using quantitative liquid discharge apparatuses, followed by sealing under reduced pressure with a large-area exterior film, to create a laminated battery structure that is hermetically sealed and reduces impurity entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional fabrication method (stacking electrodes and injecting electrolyte) is used, then the process is simple to implement, but lithium ion diffusion occurs and manufacturing efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The electrolyte is dripped onto the electrodes and separators before the stacking process. This preliminary action allows the electrolyte to be precisely distributed in advance, preventing lithium ion diffusion during assembly and enabling automated high-speed fabrication without compromising ease of implementation
Solution Approach 2:
The fabrication process is divided into distinct automated stages: electrolyte dripping, stacking, and sealing. This segmentation enables each step to be optimized independently for automation, significantly improving manufacturing efficiency while maintaining simplicity through standardized modular operations
2Device complexity
If conventional injection method is used, then the process requires fewer steps, but it is difficult to accurately adjust electrolyte injection amount
Solution Approach 1:
The conventional mechanical injection system is replaced with a quantitative liquid discharge apparatus that uses precise volumetric control mechanisms. This substitution enables accurate electrolyte amount adjustment through automated dispensing, achieving manufacturing precision of within 1 mL while maintaining a streamlined process flow
Solution Approach 2:
The electrolyte dispensing process utilizes controllable parameters (volume, rate, position) of the quantitative liquid discharge apparatus to precisely adjust the electrolyte amount. By changing these parameters, the system achieves accurate electrolyte injection without increasing process complexity
3Speed
If conventional sealing method is used, then the process is faster, but impurities can enter and lithium ions diffuse outward
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing process is performed in a reduced pressure environment that creates an inert atmosphere, preventing impurity entry and lithium ion diffusion. This inert environment maintains high sealing quality while the reduced pressure enables faster sealing operation by eliminating atmospheric resistance
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 significantly shortens the fabrication process, reduces manufacturing costs, and enhances the reliability and safety of secondary batteries by ensuring precise impregnation and sealing, enabling efficient mass production of batteries with uniform properties.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of drops of an electrolyte are dripped on any one or more of a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode for uniform impregnation
Implementation Method 2
sealing is preferably performed under reduced pressure, which is lower than at least atmospheric pressure, in order to prevent mixing of impurities
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention achieves a fabrication method that can automate fabrication of a secondary battery. In addition, a fabrication method that can fabricate a secondary battery efficiently in a short time is achieved. Furthermore, a fabrication method that can fabricate a secondary battery with high yield is achieved. Alternatively, a method for fabricating a large secondary battery with a relatively large size is achieved. An electrolyte is dripped on one or more of a positive electrode, a separator, and a negative electrode; the one or more of the positive electrode, the separator, and the negative electrode are impregnated with the electrolyte; pressure is then reduced; and a stack of the positive electrode, the separator, and the negative electrode is sealed with an exterior film. A plurality of stacks may be arranged on an exterior film; a plurality of drops of an electrolyte may be dripped on the stacks; sealing may be performed under reduced pressure; and then the exterior film may be divided into separate secondary batteries.