Cable-Type Secondary Battery Spiral Electrode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing secondary batteries face limitations in shape flexibility and electrolyte infiltration, leading to poor performance and cycle characteristics due to their rigid structures and inadequate electrolyte distribution.

Innovation Solution

A cable-type secondary battery design featuring a spiral electrode with an open structure, allowing easy electrolyte penetration and featuring a core with an electrolyte, an inner spiral electrode, a separation layer, and an outer electrode, which facilitates lithium ion supply and exchange, enhancing capacity and cycle characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a polymer electrolyte is used to form an electrolyte layer in linear batteries, then the battery structure is formed, but the electrolyte inflow into electrode active material is difficult, increasing resistance and deteriorating capacity and cycle characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapacity and cycle characteristicsVSAvoidelectrolyte inflow difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a porous three-dimensional network structure formed by carbon nanotubes and conductive polymer granules that facilitates electrolyte penetration and distribution throughout the electrode active material, resolving the electrolyte inflow difficulty while maintaining reliable electrochemical performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure combining carbon nanotubes with conductive polymer granules to form an integrated conductive network that simultaneously provides structural support and electrolyte transport pathways, eliminating the need for separate electrolyte layers while improving capacity and cycle characteristics

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If secondary batteries use cylindrical, prismatic, or pouch shapes with metal casings, then the battery structure is stable, but the shape flexibility is limited for various mobile device applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshape flexibilityVSAvoidstructural stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid metal casings with flexible thin-film structures comprising conductive polymer granules and carbon nanotube networks that can be conformally deposited on various substrates, enabling shape adaptability while maintaining structural integrity through the self-supporting nature of the composite material

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from traditional three-dimensional rigid battery structures to thin-film two-dimensional structures that can be flexed, folded, and conformally shaped, providing shape flexibility without compromising structural stability through the inherent mechanical properties of the carbon nanotube-polymer composite

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If an electrolyte layer is used in linear batteries, then the battery structure is complete, but the electrolyte thickness increases resistance and reduces performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery performanceVSAvoidelectrolyte layer thickness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the separate electrolyte layer from the battery structure, integrating its function into the porous network formed by carbon nanotubes and conductive polymer granules that provide both structural support and electrolyte transport pathways, thereby reducing thickness and resistance while maintaining performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the structural support function and electrolyte transport function into a single integrated porous network of carbon nanotubes and conductive polymer granules, eliminating the need for a separate electrolyte layer and reducing overall battery thickness while improving performance through reduced resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 design enables improved lithium ion diffusion and reaction surface area, resulting in superior battery performance and flexibility, with reduced electrolyte thickness requirements and potential omission of the electrolyte layer, enhancing capacity and cycle stability.

Implementation Method 1

a core for supplying lithium ions, which comprises an electrolyte; an inner electrode surrounding the outer surface of the core for supplying lithium ions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon diffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

comprising a spiral electrode formed by spirally twisting two or more wire-type inner current collectors coated with an inner electrode active material on the surface thereof

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSurface area effect:

Implementation Method 3

a separation layer surrounding the outer surface of the inner electrode to prevent a short circuit between electrodes

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical separation:

Implementation Method 4

a core for supplying lithium ions, which comprises an electrolyte

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIonic conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP2768062B1Cable-type secondary battery
Publication Date: 2016.05.18 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP2768062B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2768062B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a cable-type secondary battery having a horizontal cross section of a predetermined shape and extending longitudinally, comprising: a core for supplying lithium ions, which comprises an electrolyte; an inner electrode, comprising a spiral electrode formed by spirally twisting two or more wire-type inner current collectors coated with an inner electrode active material on the surface thereof; a separation layer surrounding the outer surface of the inner electrode to prevent a short circuit between electrodes; and an outer electrode surrounding the outer surface of the separation layer, and comprising an outer electrode active material layer and an outer current collector. The core for supplying lithium ions, which comprises an electrolyte, according to the present invention is disposed in the inner electrode having an open structure and comprising a spiral electrode, from which the electrolyte of the core for supplying lithium ions can be easily penetrated into an electrode active material, thereby facilitating the supply and exchange of lithium ions. Thus, the cable-type secondary battery of the present invention has the core for supplying lithium ions to exhibit good capacity and superior cycle characteristics.