Composite Electrode Plate With Conductive Primer for Li-Ion Machinability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lithium-ion batteries face issues with performance degradation due to the use of plastic current collectors plated with metal layers, affecting machinability, safety, and electrical performance, despite increasing energy density.

Innovation Solution

The electrode plate incorporates a composite current collector with a support layer and a thin conductive layer, accompanied by a conductive primer layer between the current collector and the electrode active material layer, enhancing the interface and bonding force, and a conductive network to improve conductivity and reduce resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a plastic current collector plated with a metal layer is used, then energy density is increased, but machinability and safety performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy densityVSAvoidmachinability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite current collector structure consisting of a plastic substrate layer combined with a metal plating layer. This composite material approach allows the current collector to simultaneously achieve high energy density through the lightweight plastic base while maintaining adequate machinability and safety through the metal coating that provides structural integrity and processing compatibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If a plastic current collector plated with a metal layer is used, then energy density is increased, but safety performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy densityVSAvoidsafety performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The composite structure of plastic substrate with metal plating creates a synergistic effect where the plastic provides lightweight properties for high energy density while the metal layer contributes to safety by providing thermal stability, mechanical strength, and resistance to degradation, thereby maintaining safety performance despite the use of lightweight materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Quantity of substance

If a plastic current collector plated with a metal layer is used, then energy density is increased, but electrical performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy densityVSAvoidelectrical performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The metal plating layer on the plastic current collector serves as a conductive pathway that compensates for the electrical conductivity limitations of the plastic substrate. This composite structure enables the current collector to achieve high energy density through the lightweight plastic while maintaining adequate electrical performance through the conductive metal coating that facilitates electron transport.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Quantity of substance

If the thickness of the conductive layer is reduced to increase energy density, then mass energy density is improved, but conductivity and bonding strength deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemass energy densityVSAvoidconductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the thickness parameter of the metal conductive layer within a specific range (30 nm to 3 μm) to achieve the desired balance. By controlling the metal layer thickness to be sufficiently thin to reduce overall current collector weight and increase energy density, while simultaneously maintaining adequate thickness to preserve electrical conductivity and bonding strength, the patent resolves this technical contradiction through precise parameter optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

5Quantity of substance

If the thickness of the conductive layer is reduced to increase energy density, then mass energy density is improved, but bonding strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemass energy densityVSAvoidbonding strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a minimum thickness threshold for the metal conductive layer (30 nm) that ensures adequate bonding strength between the current collector and electrode active material layer. This parameter control allows the metal layer to be thin enough to achieve high energy density while remaining thick enough to provide sufficient adhesion and mechanical bonding, thereby resolving the contradiction between energy density and bonding strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enhances the electrode's electrical performance, safety, and machinability by reducing direct current resistance and preventing phenomena like great polarization and lithium precipitation, ensuring long-term reliability.

Implementation Method 1

a conductive primer layer including a conductive material and a bonding agent is further disposed between the current collector and the electrode active material layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

a conductive network between the current collector, the conductive primer layer, and the active substance is effectively repaired and established, electronic transmission efficiency is improved, and resistance between the current collector and the electrode active material layer is reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3796436B1Electrode plate, electrochemical apparatus, battery module, battery pack, and device
Publication Date: 2025.11.12 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
  • EP3796436B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3796436B1 patent drawingFigure 5~8
  • EP3796436B1 patent drawingFigure 9~11

AI summary

This application relates to the battery field, and specifically, to an electrode plate, an electrochemical apparatus, a battery module, a battery pack, and a device. The electrode plate in this application includes a current collector and an electrode active material layer disposed on at least one surface of the current collector, where the current collector includes a support layer and a conductive layer disposed on at least one surface of the support layer, a single-side thickness D2 of the conductive layer satisfies 30 nm ≤ D2 ≤ 3 µm, and a conductive primer layer including a conductive material and a bonding agent is further disposed between the current collector and the electrode active material layer. The electrode plate in this application has good machinability. An electrochemical apparatus including the electrode plate has high energy density, good electrical performance, and long-term reliability.