Composite Current Collector Electrode Plate for Higher Energy Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lithium-ion batteries face challenges in achieving high energy density, electrochemical performance, and safety performance, particularly due to issues with the processing performance and electrochemical performance of electrode plates using plastic current collectors coated with metal layers.
Innovation Solution
The development of an electrode plate with a composite current collector that includes a support layer made of polymer material or polymer composite material, a thin conductive layer, and a conductive primer coating layer. This configuration enhances energy density, improves short-circuit resistance, and ensures better adhesion and current flow capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a plastic current collector coated with a metal layer is used, then energy density is increased, but processing performance and electrochemical performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite current collector structure consisting of a polymer support layer and a metal conductive layer. This composite material combines the advantages of both materials: the polymer provides mechanical strength and chemical stability, while the metal layer provides electrical conductivity. This resolves the contradiction by achieving both high energy density (through thin design) and good processing/electrochemical performance (through the composite structure).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the thickness of the metal conductive layer to a specific range (30 nm to 3 μm) and controls the polymer support layer thickness (1 μm to 20 μm). By precisely controlling these parameters, the patent achieves the right balance between energy density (thinner is better) and performance (requires sufficient thickness for functionality).
2Quantity of substance
If the metal layer thickness is reduced to increase energy density, then weight energy density improves, but the conductive layer becomes prone to damage and electrochemical performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure with polymer support layer provides mechanical backing to the thin metal conductive layer, preventing it from being damaged while maintaining low weight. The polymer layer acts as a structural scaffold that protects the fragile metal layer without significantly increasing weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer support layer serves as an intermediary between the thin metal conductive layer and the electrode active material layer. It provides mechanical support to the metal layer while allowing electrical conductivity to pass through, mediating between the conflicting requirements of thinness and durability.
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 proposed electrode plate design significantly improves the energy density, electrochemical performance, and safety performance of lithium-ion batteries, achieving weight energy density and volumetric energy density enhancements while maintaining or exceeding the performance of conventional metal foil current collectors.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive layer provided on at least one surface of the support layer
Implementation Method 2
a conductive primer coating layer containing a binder and a conductive material is separately provided between the current collector and the electrode active material layer
Data Source
AI summary
This application relates to an electrode plate, an electrochemical apparatus, and an apparatus thereof. The electrode plate of this application includes a current collector, an electrode active material layer provided on at least one surface of the current collector, and an electrical connection member electrically connected to the current collector. The electrode active material layer is provided on a main body portion of the current collector in a zone referred to as a film zone, the electrical connection member and the current collector are welded and connected at an edge of the current collector, at a welding zone referred to as an transfer welding zone and a transition zone is referred to as an extension zone, where the transition zone is of the current collector between the film zone and the transfer welding zone, and is coated with no electrode active material layer.