Current Collector Coating for High Voltage Battery Corrosion
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lithium-ion batteries are limited to voltages less than 3.5 Volts, which is problematic for applications requiring higher voltages, and existing solutions to increase voltage, such as modifying the electrolyte, are costly and impact battery performance.
Innovation Solution
A current collector coated with an interfacing layer composed of particles with an average diameter of less than or equal to 10 micrometers, providing improved corrosion resistance and enabling higher voltage delivery without compromising battery performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the operating voltage of lithium-ion batteries is increased above 3.5 Volts to improve energy density, then the specific energy density increases, but corrosion phenomena become more pronounced affecting battery reliability
Solution Approach 1:
A polymer coating layer is applied to the current collector to serve as an intermediary barrier between the electrode and the electrolyte. This coating prevents direct contact and corrosion reactions while allowing ionic transport, enabling the system to operate at higher voltages (up to 4.2V) without suffering from accelerated corrosion. The coating acts as a protective mediator that reconciles the conflict between high voltage operation and corrosion resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the current collector surface by applying a polymer coating with specific properties (porosity, conductivity, thickness). This parameter change allows the system to withstand higher operating voltages without corrosion, effectively transforming the current collector into a corrosion-resistant component capable of high-voltage operation while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If a porous protective conductive coating containing carbon or graphite is applied to protect the current collector from corrosion at higher voltages, then corrosion resistance improves, but the manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention simplifies the coating system by changing from a complex porous conductive coating containing carbon/graphite to a polymer-based coating. This parameter change in material composition reduces manufacturing complexity while maintaining the essential function of corrosion protection at high voltages, as the polymer coating can be applied using simpler processes without requiring conductive additives.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer coating forms a composite structure with the current collector that provides both mechanical protection and corrosion resistance. This composite approach simplifies the overall system compared to incorporating multiple functional additives (carbon, graphite, porogens) into the coating, as the polymer matrix itself provides the necessary protective properties when properly formulated and applied.
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 coated current collector effectively prevents corrosion at higher potentials, allowing lithium-ion batteries to operate safely and efficiently at voltages up to 4.2 Volts, enhancing their performance and stability.
Implementation Method 1
the current collector being coated with an interface layer, the interface layer being formed by coating on the current collector with a composition
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a current collector (22) of an electrochemical accumulator, the current collector (22) being coated with an interfacing layer (20), the interfacing layer (20) being formed by coating on the current collector (22) with a composition, the composition being formed of particles, at least 50% of the particles having a volume average diameter less than or equal to 10 micrometers.