Electrode Plate Structure for Lightweight Current Collector Conductivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion batteries face challenges in achieving high mass and volume energy density due to limitations in current collector materials, leading to performance degradations in processing, safety, and electrical performance, particularly with metal-plated plastic current collectors which are prone to conductivity issues and damage.
Innovation Solution
The electrode plate design incorporates a current collector with a support layer and a conductive layer of specific thickness, where the electrode active material layer is divided into inner and outer regions with uneven conductive agent distribution, enhancing conductivity and binding force between the current collector and the active material layer, thereby improving electron transmission efficiency and reducing internal resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If a metal-plated plastic current collector is used to reduce weight and increase energy density, then mass energy density is improved, but electrical conductivity and processing performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite current collector structure consisting of a plastic support layer and a metal conductive layer. The support layer provides lightweight mechanical support while the metal layer provides electrical conductivity. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties to achieve both weight reduction and maintained conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive layer is applied selectively on the surface of the plastic support layer rather than making the entire current collector metal. This localized application of metal provides sufficient electrical conductivity at the interface with active material while keeping the bulk structure lightweight and plastic-based.
2Weight of moving object
If the conductive layer thickness is reduced to decrease weight, then mass energy density is improved, but electrical conductivity and mechanical strength deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the thickness parameter of the conductive layer to a specific range (30 nm to 3 μm) to achieve the best balance between weight reduction and electrical conductivity. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient conductivity while minimizing weight, resolving the contradiction between these two factors.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform conductive agent distribution is used in the electrode active material layer, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but electrical performance and binding force deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive agent is distributed non-uniformly with higher concentration in the inner region near the current collector and lower concentration in the outer region. This localized concentration optimization improves electrical performance and binding force at the critical interface while accepting increased manufacturing complexity.
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 design effectively increases the power performance of lithium-ion batteries, reduces polarization, and enhances long-term reliability by improving the binding force and conductivity between the current collector and the electrode active material layer, ensuring better safety and processing performance.
Implementation Method 1
the conductive layer has a single-sided thickness D2 that satisfies: 30 nm≤D2≤3 μm... effectively repairing and constructing the conductive network between the current collector and the active material
Implementation Method 2
the conductive agent is unevenly distributed in the electrode active material layer in a thickness direction... the conductive agent in the inner region includes at least one of a one-dimensional conductive material and a two-dimensional conductive material
Data Source
AI summary
The electrode plate includes a current collector and an electrode active material layer disposed on at least one surface of the current collector, wherein the current collector includes a support layer and a conductive layer, the conductive layer has a single-sided thickness D2 satisfying: 30 nm≤D2≤3 μm; the electrode active material layer is divided into two regions, an inner region and an outer region in a thickness direction of the electrode active material layer, in which the weight percentage of the conductive agent in the inner region of the electrode active material layer is higher than the weight percentage content of the conductive agent in the outer region of the electrode active material layer, and the conductive agent in the inner region of the electrode active material layer includes at least one of a one-dimensional conductive material and a two-dimensional conductive material.