Secondary Battery Electrolyte Impregnation Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for manufacturing secondary batteries, particularly lithium secondary batteries, face challenges in achieving efficient interfacial wetting of the electrode assembly with the electrolyte solution, leading to insufficient electrolyte infiltration, reduced battery capacity, and performance issues due to hydrophobic material characteristics and the need for prolonged and difficult processes.
Innovation Solution
The method involves impregnating the electrode assembly in a chamber with a large volume of electrolyte solution, allowing for improved impregnation properties and mobility, and then moving the assembly into a battery case, which enhances interfacial wetting and manufacturing process efficiency, even with high-viscosity electrolyte solutions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If electrolyte solution is injected into battery case after electrode assembly is stacked, then battery structure is formed, but electrolyte infiltration is insufficient and wetting is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode assembly is impregnated with electrolyte solution in advance within the battery case before final assembly completion. The battery case serves as both the container and the impregnation chamber, allowing electrolyte to be introduced and distributed throughout the electrode assembly before the battery is sealed and finalized. This preliminary impregnation ensures complete wetting of hydrophobic materials without requiring separate complex infiltration equipment.
2Reliability
If high temperature or pressure is applied to improve wetting, then electrolyte infiltration improves, but electrode assembly and electrolyte solution may be transformed causing internal short circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the physical parameters of the electrolyte solution by adjusting its viscosity and surface tension through chemical composition selection. The electrolyte is formulated to have optimal flow characteristics at ambient temperature, enabling it to penetrate hydrophobic porous materials effectively without requiring elevated temperature or pressure. This parameter optimization achieves complete wetting while maintaining safe operating conditions that prevent electrode transformation and internal short circuits.
3Volume of moving object
If battery case size is reduced to decrease volume, then device compactness improves, but area for electrolyte infiltration decreases and impregnation becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The battery case is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the structural container for battery components, the chamber for electrolyte impregnation, and the sealing enclosure. By making the battery case itself the impregnation chamber, the patent eliminates the need for separate impregnation equipment or larger external chambers. The electrolyte is introduced through the case structure and distributed throughout the electrode assembly within the same space that will ultimately contain the battery, achieving complete impregnation in a compact design.
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 results in faster and more complete electrolyte impregnation of the electrode assembly, improving battery capacity and performance while allowing for the simultaneous impregnation of multiple assemblies, thus enhancing the manufacturing process and achieving high-temperature stability and improved wetting properties.
Implementation Method 1
the finally injected electrolyte solution infiltrates a cathode, an anode and a separator by capillary force
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a secondary battery, built in a battery case, having an electrode assembly impregnated with an electrolyte solution, the method including:(a) injecting an electrolyte solution into a chamber;(b) impregnating by soaking an electrode assembly, which has a separator interposed between a cathode and an anode, in an electrolyte solution contained in the chamber; and(c) moving into the electrode assembly from step (b) with the electrolyte solution into a battery case,whereby interfacial wetting of the electrode assembly and the electrolyte solution is improved.A secondary battery manufactured according to the method may have improved electrolyte solution impregnation properties, ionic conductivity, electronic conductivity and the like and, as such, may have improved electrochemical performance.