Composite Lithium Strip for Battery Electrode Manufacturing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Li-ion battery manufacturing faces challenges with lithium strip breakage and capacity reduction due to the formation of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) during charging and cyclic processes, especially with alloy materials like silicon and tin, leading to reduced battery capacity and cycle life.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that composite lithium strips with substrates to form composite lithium strips, which are then used to create a lithium-supplied electrode plate by peeling and reeling, avoiding direct contact with the composite device to prevent breakage, and utilizing temperature control and smoothing mechanisms to ensure stability and uniformity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If lithium strips are used directly in manufacturing, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the lithium strips break easily due to low strength

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidlithium strip strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining lithium strips with support substrates to form composite lithium strips. The support substrate provides mechanical strength while the lithium strip maintains its electrochemical function, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The support substrate acts as an intermediary carrier that temporarily supports the lithium strip during manufacturing processes. This intermediary structure prevents direct contact between the fragile lithium strip and manufacturing equipment, eliminating breakage while maintaining process simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Strength

If lithium strips are composite with substrates, then the strength is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium strip strengthVSAvoidcomposite device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support substrate serves as a removable intermediary that simplifies handling during manufacturing. After serving its protective function, it can be easily removed, meaning the complexity is temporary and process-specific rather than permanent.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The support substrate is extracted or removed after serving its protective function during manufacturing. This extraction principle allows the composite structure to provide strength during processing while not adding permanent complexity to the final lithium strip product.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If temperature control is applied during compositing, then the uniformity is improved, but the manufacturing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium strip uniformityVSAvoidmanufacturing cycle time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling temperature during the compositing process. This temperature control ensures uniform adhesion and properties of the composite lithium strip, achieving high manufacturing precision through controlled parameter variation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method effectively strengthens the lithium strip and prevents breakage during manufacturing, maintaining battery capacity and extending cycle life by ensuring continuous lithium supply to the electrode plate.

Implementation Method 1

adjusting a temperature of the composting device to adjust a temperature of the first lithium strip during compositing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Implementation Method 2

forming an obstruction using a second substrate between the first lithium strip and a compositing device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhysical barrier protection: Physical Containment

Data Source

PatentEP3190647B1Method and system for supplying lithium to electrode plate
Publication Date: 2023.03.01 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY CO LTD
  • EP3190647B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3190647B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3190647B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present invention relates to the field of Li-ion battery manufacturing technologies and, in particular, to a method and a system for supplying lithium to an electrode plate. The method includes: compositing a first substrate and a first lithium strip to form a first composite lithium strip, and forming an obstruction using a second substrate between the first lithium strip and a composting device, compositing the first composite lithium strip and an electrode plate to be supplied with lithium to form a lithium supplied composite electrode plate, during the compositing process, the first substrate in the first composite lithium strip is located at a side away from the electrode plate to be supplied with lithium, peeling and reeling the first substrate from the lithium supplied composite electrode plate, to form a lithium supplied electrode plate. The device includes: an electrode plate unreeling device, a first composite lithium strip transportation device, an electrode plate lithium supply roll-in device, a first electrode plate peeling device and a first substrate reeling device, the electrode plate supplying lithium roll-in device includes two oppositely arranged compression rollers. The method and system for supplying lithium to an electrode plate, through adopting the substrate, on one hand, improving the strength of the lithium strip, on the other hand, forming an obstruction between the lithium strip and the composite device, so as to avoid the lithium strip from breakage and cut during the manufacturing process.