Lithium Battery Pre-Aging With Sound Waves for Electrolyte Wetting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary batteries face challenges in achieving efficient electrolyte wetting and removing air bubbles, leading to prolonged impregnation times and non-uniform charging due to the hydrophobic nature of electrodes and the complexity of existing ultrasonic wave methods.
Innovation Solution
A manufacturing method that involves assembling a battery cell, injecting an electrolyte, and using a directional speaker to apply sound waves, specifically targeting regions where air bubbles form, to enhance electrolyte impregnation and charging uniformity by pre-aging the battery cell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ultrasonic waves are applied to remove air bubbles and improve electrolyte wetting, then electrolyte impregnation efficiency is improved, but processing complexity increases and side effects such as deintercalation of active materials occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical ultrasonic vibration system with an acoustic wave system using a speaker. Instead of using ultrasonic waves that require complex coupling media and risk deintercalation, the invention uses audible frequency sound waves (20Hz-20kHz) generated by a speaker to remove air bubbles through acoustic radiation pressure and cavitation effects, achieving the same air bubble removal and electrolyte wetting improvement without the harmful side effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency parameter from ultrasonic range (20kHz-100kHz) to audible sound wave range (20Hz-20kHz). This parameter change allows the use of a simple speaker instead of complex ultrasonic equipment, reduces processing complexity, and eliminates the deintercalation side effect while maintaining the air bubble removal capability through acoustic radiation pressure
2Reliability
If ultrasonic waves are applied to remove air bubbles, then electrolyte wetting property is improved, but energy is transferred to electrodes causing deintercalation of active materials
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes ultrasonic mechanical vibration with acoustic wave pressure from a speaker. The acoustic radiation pressure and cavitation effects of sound waves remove air bubbles without the high-energy mechanical vibration that causes deintercalation, thus improving electrolyte wetting while protecting the active materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the frequency parameter from ultrasonic (20kHz-100kHz) to audible sound waves (20Hz-20kHz). This lower frequency range provides sufficient acoustic radiation pressure to remove air bubbles and improve wetting without transferring excessive energy to the electrodes that would cause deintercalation of active materials
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional electrolyte injection is used without air bubble removal, then manufacturing process is simple, but impregnation time is prolonged and charging uniformity is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a simple speaker to generate acoustic waves for air bubble removal, avoiding complex ultrasonic equipment. This maintains manufacturing process simplicity while dramatically reducing impregnation time by eliminating air bubbles that would otherwise block electrolyte penetration
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies sound waves immediately after electrolyte injection to remove air bubbles before the impregnation process begins. This preliminary action eliminates the time-consuming wait for natural impregnation, reducing overall processing time while maintaining simple manufacturing procedures
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 method effectively improves electrolyte wetting properties, reduces impregnation time, and enhances charging uniformity by removing air bubbles using sound waves, making the process more efficient and effective.
Implementation Method 1
applying sound waves to assembled battery cell using a speaker
Implementation Method 2
applying sound waves to assembled battery cell using a speaker... to remove air bubbles
Implementation Method 3
the electrolyte is permeated into the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator by capillary force
Data Source
AI summary
A manufacturing method of a lithium secondary battery includes assembling a battery cell by accommodating an electrode assembly inside a battery case; injecting an electrolyte; and pre-aging the battery cell after the electrolyte is injected. The pre-aging includes applying sound waves to the battery cell using a speaker; and aging the battery cell.