Battery Interlayer for Solid-State Lithium Contact Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable lithium batteries with solid-state electrolytes face challenges in maintaining intimate contact between the lithium metal negative electrode and the solid-state separator due to delamination during cycling, leading to increased ionic resistance and the need for high pressure, which increases cost and reduces energy density.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an interlayer of zinc or tin with specific thicknesses between the negative electrode current collector and the electrolyte separator, optionally with an oxygen-containing compound, to enhance contact and reduce delamination, thereby eliminating the need for high pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a lithium metal anode is used to increase energy density, then the energy storage capacity is improved, but dendrite formation occurs causing safety issues and reduced cycle life
Solution Approach 1:
An interlayer comprising a porous substrate with lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON) coating is introduced between the lithium metal anode and electrolyte. This interlayer acts as a mediator that enables dendrite-free lithium plating and stripping while maintaining low interfacial resistance, thus preserving high energy density without compromising safety or cycle life
Solution Approach 2:
The interlayer utilizes a porous substrate structure with controlled porosity (30-70%) to facilitate uniform lithium ion distribution during plating and stripping processes. The porous architecture prevents dendrite formation by providing multiple pathways for lithium ion transport, thereby maintaining reliability while enabling high energy density operation
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional coating methods are used to apply protective layers, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the coating uniformity and adhesion are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical coating methods with atomic layer deposition (ALD) technology to form the LiPON coating. This substitution achieves atomic-level control over coating thickness and composition, ensuring uniform coverage and strong adhesion to the porous substrate while maintaining scalability for manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The ALD process parameters including deposition temperature, precursor flow rates, and cycle numbers are precisely controlled to optimize coating properties. By adjusting these parameters, the method achieves consistent coating uniformity and adhesion across different production batches, overcoming limitations of conventional coating approaches
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
The interlayer maintains stable contact between the lithium metal negative electrode and the solid-state separator, reducing ionic resistance and preserving energy density by preventing delamination, thus improving the performance and reliability of solid-state rechargeable batteries.
Implementation Method 1
the porous substrate may comprise a lithium phosphorus oxynitride (LiPON) coating
Implementation Method 2
an electrochemical cell comprising a first electrode, a second electrode, and an interlayer
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided herein are electrochemical cells and/or electrode stacks comprising an interlayer disposed proximate to the negative electrode current collector and/or a metal negative electrode, wherein the interlayer is disposed between and in contact with a negative electrode current collector and a solid-state electrolyte separator or between and in contact with a metal negative electrode and a solid-state electrolyte separator.