Copper-Aluminum Secondary Battery for Low-Cost Electrode Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing secondary batteries face challenges in achieving low manufacturing costs and simple manufacturing processes due to the use of rare metals, which complicates the production and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A secondary battery configuration using copper as the active material for the positive electrode and aluminum as the active material for the negative electrode, with a non-aqueous electrolyte, where copper ions migrate between the electrodes during charging and discharging, allowing for a simple and cost-effective manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If lithium compound and carbon materials are used as electrode active materials, then high energy density is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases and raw material availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive rare metals (lithium, cobalt, nickel) with abundant, inexpensive metals (copper and aluminum). The copper foil serves as both current collector and active material, and aluminum foil serves as current collector and active material, eliminating the need for expensive electrode material applications while maintaining functional performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the current collectors multi-functional by using copper foil as both current collector and positive electrode active material, and aluminum foil as both current collector and negative electrode active material. This eliminates the need for separate electrode material layers and simplifies the manufacturing process.
2Use of energy by moving object
If lithium compound and carbon materials are used as electrode active materials, then high energy density is achieved, but manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of current collector and active material into single components. The copper foil combines current collection and positive electrode functions, while the aluminum foil combines current collection and negative electrode functions, eliminating multiple manufacturing steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The current collectors serve multiple functions: electrical conduction, structural support, and electrochemical activity. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components and simplifies the manufacturing process by eliminating separate electrode material application steps.
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 results in a battery with a low manufacturing cost and a simple manufacturing process, achieving high weight and volumetric energy densities, with the ability to repeat charge-discharge cycles efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
copper ions (Cu2+) migrate from the positive electrode to the negative electrode during charging, and copper ions (Cu2+) migrate along opposite objection during discharging
Implementation Method 2
adopting a non-aqueous electrolytic solution as an electrolyte
Data Source
AI summary
A secondary battery adapts copper as an active material forming a positive electrode, adopts aluminum as an active material forming a negative electrode, and adopts a non-aqueous electrolytic solution as an electrolyte. Copper ions (Cu2+) migrate from the positive electrode to the negative electrode during charging, and copper ions (Cu2+) migrate along opposite objection during discharging. The secondary battery is low in manufacturing cost and simple in manufacturing process because of not using rare metals.