Electrode Member Thickness Gradient for Battery Rolling Deformation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electrode members in secondary batteries experience bending during the rolling process, leading to misalignment of active material layers and lithium precipitation, which affects the battery's performance.
Innovation Solution
The electrode member design includes a conducting layer with a main portion and a protruding portion, where the active material layer is coated only on the main portion, and a thickness gradient is implemented to reduce the extension ratio, with a protecting layer and conductive structures to manage stress and prevent deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the active material layer is rolled thinly to increase energy density, then the energy density is improved, but the insulating substrate experiences differential extension causing bending deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a thickness gradient in the active material layer, where the thickness varies from the first region (thicker) to the second region (thinner). This non-uniform thickness distribution compensates for the differential extension of the insulating substrate during rolling, allowing the layer to be rolled thinly for high energy density while preventing bending deformation through the strategically designed thickness variation
2Ease of manufacture
If the insulating substrate has large extension ratio to allow thin rolling, then the rolling process is easier, but the differential extension causes misalignment of active material layers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses local quality by designing different thickness regions in the active material layer. The first region with greater thickness and the second region with smaller thickness are strategically positioned to compensate for the differential extension of the insulating substrate. This allows the substrate to extend freely during rolling while the thickness gradient maintains the alignment precision of the active material layers
3Ease of manufacture
If the active material layer has uniform thickness, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the reaction force limits extension causing bending after rolling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transitioning from a uniform thickness parameter to a gradient thickness parameter in the active material layer. By changing the thickness parameter from constant to variable (thicker in first region, thinner in second region), the patent resolves the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and preventing bending, as the gradient structure inherently compensates for differential extension while remaining manufacturable
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a secondary battery and an electrode member of the secondary battery. The electrode member includes an insulating substrate, a conducting layer and an active material layer. The conducting layer is provided on a surface of the insulating substrate, and the conducting layer includes a main portion and a protruding portion extending from the main portion, the main portion is coated with the active material layer, the protruding portion is not coated with the active material layer. The active material layer includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is positioned at an end of the active material layer away from the protruding portion, the second portion is positioned at a side of the first portion close to the protruding portion, and a thickness of the first portion is less than a thickness of the second portion. The secondary battery comprises an electrode assembly, and the electrode assembly comprises the electrode member.