Crosslinked Polymer Electrode Coating for Thermal Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary batteries face safety issues due to ignition and explosion risks from organic electrolytes and have complex manufacturing processes, with existing safety mechanisms degrading battery quality and being inefficient in heat management.
Innovation Solution
A crosslinked polymer coating layer is applied to the surface of electrode active material particles, maintaining the pore structure and reducing reactivity with electrolytes, thereby enhancing safety and quality by inhibiting side reactions and improving thermal stability without compromising lithium ion conduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a polymer electrolyte is used to improve safety, then thermal safety is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies polymer electrolyte only in specific locations where safety is most critical - on the electrode surfaces and in the separator regions closest to the electrodes. This localized application provides thermal safety where heat generation occurs during charging/discharging, while avoiding the need to replace the entire electrolyte system, thus reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite system combining liquid electrolyte and polymer electrolyte components. The polymer electrolyte is integrated with the separator and electrode structures to form a hybrid system that leverages the advantages of both liquid electrolytes (ion conductivity) and polymer electrolytes (thermal stability), without requiring complete redesign of the battery architecture.
2Reliability
If gel type polymer electrolyte is used to improve safety, then thermal safety is improved, but battery quality degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses polymer electrolyte with controlled local concentration and distribution, primarily at the electrode-separator interfaces where thermal runaway risks are highest. This localized approach provides safety improvement while maintaining the overall battery performance and quality, as the bulk electrolyte composition can be optimized for ion conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent carefully controls parameters such as polymer electrolyte concentration, molecular weight, and crosslinking degree to achieve optimal balance between safety and performance. By adjusting these parameters, the patent maintains ion conductivity and battery quality while achieving the desired thermal safety improvement.
3Reliability
If separator-based heat occlusion is used, then thermal safety is improved, but efficiency is insufficient under rapid heat emission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces polymer electrolyte as an intermediary substance between the liquid electrolyte and the separator structure. This polymer layer acts as a thermal barrier and viscosity modifier that enhances heat occlusion capability, allowing the separator to function more effectively during rapid heat emission events while maintaining normal ion transport during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite separator structure incorporating polymer electrolyte materials with the traditional separator. This composite approach combines the mechanical integrity and porosity of the separator with the thermal stability and viscosity-modifying properties of the polymer electrolyte, achieving superior heat management efficiency under rapid heat emission conditions.
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 crosslinked polymer coating significantly improves thermal safety by reducing calorific values and dendrite formation, while maintaining battery quality and stability through controlled electrolyte infiltration and ion conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
A crosslinked polymer coating layer is applied to the surface of electrode active material particles, maintaining the pore structure and reducing reactivity with electrolytes
Implementation Method 2
maintaining battery quality and stability through controlled electrolyte infiltration and ion conductivity
Implementation Method 3
enhancing safety and quality by inhibiting side reactions and improving thermal stability without compromising lithium ion conduction
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an electrode, comprising a coating layer of crosslinked polymer, formed on a surface of electrode active material particles, while maintaining a pore structure formed among the electrode active material particles interconnected to each other in the electrode. A method for manufacturing the electrode and an electrochemical device comprising the electrode are also disclosed. The electrode, which comprises a coating layer of crosslinked polymer formed on the surface of the electrode active material particles, can improve the safety of a battery, while minimizing degradation in the quality of a battery.