Secondary Battery Protective Member for Electrode Vertex Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary batteries face damage to exterior materials due to the sharp vertices and edges of the electrode assembly, leading to electrolyte leakage, ignition, and performance deterioration.
Innovation Solution
A secondary battery design incorporating a protective member made of materials like thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin, rubber resin, non-conductive metal alloy, or non-conductive ceramic, which surrounds the vertex and edges of the electrode assembly, preventing damage by contacting the exterior material with a curved surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the electrode assembly has sharp vertices and edges to maintain structural integrity, then the mechanical strength is improved, but the exterior material is damaged leading to electrolyte leakage and ignition
Solution Approach 1:
A protective member made of flexible material is introduced as an intermediary between the electrode assembly and the exterior material. This protective member has an inner surface that contacts the vertex and an outer surface that contacts the exterior material, thereby preventing direct contact between the sharp vertex and the exterior material while maintaining the structural integrity of the electrode assembly.
2Volume of moving object
If the electrode assembly maintains sharp vertices for compact design, then the volume efficiency is improved, but the reliability of the battery system deteriorates due to exterior material damage
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member is divided into multiple portions, each surrounding a different vertex of the electrode assembly. This segmentation allows the protective function to be applied selectively to areas where damage is most likely to occur, while maintaining the compact design of the electrode assembly.
3Reliability
If the protective member is added to prevent vertex damage, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The protective member is made of a flexible material that can conform to the shape of the electrode assembly vertex. This flexible protective member provides effective protection against sharp vertices while maintaining a simple overall structure and avoiding significant increases in device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
To prevent damage to an exterior material accommodating an electrode assembly, the present disclosure provides a secondary battery comprising an electrode assembly; an exterior material accommodating the electrode assembly, and a protective member disposed inside the exterior material and surrounding a vertex of the electrode assembly.