Conducting Anode Coatings for Uniform Metal Electrodeposition

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Solution Overview

Problem

The propensity of metals to form irregular and non-planar electrodeposits at liquid/solid interfaces in electrochemical cells leads to uneven electrodeposition, material loss, and safety concerns such as short-circuiting due to dendritic growth, posing a significant barrier to high-energy, rechargeable batteries with metal anodes.

Innovation Solution

The use of conducting coatings with low lattice mismatch, such as graphene or Au nanosheets, to promote epitaxial electrodeposition of metals, ensuring uniform and compact deposition, thereby preventing dendritic growth and enhancing reversibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If metal anodes are used in electrochemical cells, then energy storage capacity is improved, but dendritic growth and short-circuiting risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidshort-circuiting risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A conducting coating layer is introduced as an intermediary between the metal anode and the electrolyte. This coating promotes uniform ion distribution and controlled deposition, preventing dendritic growth while maintaining high energy storage capacity. The coating acts as a mediator that reconciles the contradiction between high capacity and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The surface properties of the anode are modified by applying a conducting coating with specific crystallographic orientation and electrical conductivity. This changes the deposition parameters at the electrode-electrolyte interface, transforming the growth mode from dendritic to uniform, thereby improving reliability without sacrificing energy storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Quantity of substance

If metal anodes are used in electrochemical cells, then energy storage capacity is improved, but material loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidmaterial loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The conducting coating serves as a protective intermediary that reduces direct contact between the metal anode and the electrolyte, minimizing parasitic reactions and material dissolution. This preserves the active metal material while maintaining high energy storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The conducting coating enables reversible plating and stripping of metal ions, allowing the system to maintain high coulombic efficiency. The coating self-regulates the deposition process to minimize material loss through uniform ion distribution and controlled growth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If conventional electrodeposition is used, then deposition speed is improved, but deposition uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeposition speedVSAvoiddeposition uniformity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The conducting coating modifies the electrochemical parameters at the electrode surface, including local current density distribution and ion transport characteristics. This enables fast deposition rates while maintaining uniform coating quality through controlled crystal growth on the textured substrate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The conducting coating with specific crystallographic texture creates localized growth sites that guide uniform deposition. Different regions of the coating promote consistent nucleation and growth patterns, ensuring uniform deposition across the entire electrode surface while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution achieves high Coulombic efficiency (>99.7%) and stability over thousands of cycles, suppressing dendritic growth and ensuring safe operation of metal anodes in batteries, even at high current densities.

Implementation Method 1

The conducting coating may be epitaxial conducting coatings (e.g., have a desirable amount of lattice mismatch with an electrodeposited layer)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEpitaxy: Epitaxy

Implementation Method 2

The propensity of metals to form irregular and non-planar electrodeposits at liquid/solid interfaces in electrochemical cells

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrodeposition: Electrodeposition

Data Source

PatentUS12355083B2Conducting coatings for anodes, methods of making and using same, and uses thereof

Publication Date: 2025.07.08 CORNELL UNIVERSITY

AI summary

Conducting coatings disposed on a metal member. The conducting coatings may have a desired texture and provide homoepitaxial or heteroepitaxial coating of an electrodeposited layer. A conducting coating may be formed by applying a shear force during deposition of the conducting coating. The conducting coatings may be used in anodes of various electrochemical devices. A conducting coating, which may be part of an electrochemical device, may have an electrochemically deposited layer disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the conducting coating. The electrochemically deposited layer may be reversibly electrochemically deposited.