Composite Electrode Material for Battery Capacity and Safety Balance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional battery technologies face challenges in simultaneously achieving high charge-discharge efficiency and discharge capacity, with lithium titanate-based electrodes offering high efficiency but limited capacity, leading to a need for improved electrode materials that balance both performance metrics while ensuring safety.

Innovation Solution

The development of an electrode material comprising a first active material containing Li, Ti, and O, combined with a second active material containing Mo and O, and a solid electrolyte, which enhances both charge-discharge efficiency and discharge capacity, with specific ratios and compositions of these components optimizing safety and performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lithium titanate is used as the negative electrode active material, then charge-discharge efficiency is improved and safety is enhanced, but discharge capacity is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharge-discharge efficiencyVSAvoiddischarge capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12) with carbon materials (graphite, amorphous carbon, or carbon nanotubes) to create a composite negative electrode active material. This composite structure allows the lithium titanate component to provide high charge-discharge efficiency and safety through its zero-strain characteristics, while the carbon component contributes higher discharge capacity, thereby resolving the contradiction between efficiency and capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If lithium titanate is used as the negative electrode active material, then safety is enhanced by preventing internal short circuits, but discharge capacity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoiddischarge capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By creating a composite of lithium titanate and carbon materials, the patent maintains the safety advantages of lithium titanate (prevention of lithium metal deposition and internal short circuits) while incorporating carbon materials that provide higher discharge capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Quantity of substance

If conventional electrode materials are used, then discharge capacity can be achieved, but charge-discharge efficiency and safety are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge capacityVSAvoidcharge-discharge efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The composite structure combines the high-capacity carbon materials with high-efficiency lithium titanate, allowing the electrode to achieve both adequate discharge capacity from the carbon component and high charge-discharge efficiency from the lithium titanate component, resolving the contradiction between capacity and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Quantity of substance

If conventional electrode materials are used, then discharge capacity can be achieved, but safety risk increases due to potential internal short circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedischarge capacityVSAvoidsafety risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The composite of lithium titanate and carbon materials maintains the safety benefits of lithium titanate (prevention of lithium metal deposition and internal short circuits) while incorporating carbon materials that provide higher discharge capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between capacity and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 configuration effectively balances charge-discharge efficiency and discharge capacity, enhancing battery safety and output characteristics, as demonstrated by improved test results, and allows for the reliable operation of lithium-ion batteries with increased energy density and reduced risk of internal short circuits.

Implementation Method 1

Upon insertion and extraction of lithium ions, the first active material expands less and contracts less than the second active material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInsertion and extraction of lithium ions: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

a solid electrolyte

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS20240063378A1Electrode material and battery

Publication Date: 2024.02.22 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

An electrode material according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a first active material containing Li, Ti, and O, a second active material containing Mo and O, and a solid electrolyte. A battery according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an electrolyte layer arranged between the first electrode and the second electrode. At least one selected from the group consisting of the first electrode and the second electrode includes the electrode material.