Electrode Plate Layout for Precise Lithium Replenishment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lithium-ion batteries face issues with low initial coulombic efficiency and uneven lithium replenishment due to excessive or insufficient lithium distribution, leading to lithium precipitation, capacity loss, and reduced lifespan.

Innovation Solution

The electrode plate design includes lithium replenishing spaces with varying internal volumes and depths based on active material distribution regions, ensuring precise and quantitative lithium replenishment by controlling the sum of internal volumes and depths of these spaces to match active material weights, thereby stabilizing lithium distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If lithium replenishing spaces with uniform volume are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but lithium distribution becomes uneven leading to precipitation or capacity loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium replenishment precisionVSAvoidlithium replenishing spaces structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by configuring lithium replenishing spaces with different volumes in different regions of the electrode plate. Specifically, the edge region has smaller replenishing spaces while the center region has larger replenishing spaces, matching the local lithium consumption characteristics of each region. This resolves the contradiction by making the structure complex only where necessary (center region) while keeping the edge region simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The electrode plate is segmented into different regions (edge region and center region) with distinct lithium replenishment requirements. Each region is equipped with lithium replenishing spaces of appropriate volumes, allowing precise control of lithium distribution. This segmentation approach enables manufacturing precision without requiring the entire structure to be uniformly complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If excessive lithium replenishment is applied, then capacity loss is compensated, but lithium precipitation occurs reducing safety

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery lifespanVSAvoidlithium precipitation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent prevents lithium precipitation by applying local quality control - the edge region receives smaller replenishing space volumes (0.5-2 μm depth) matching its lower lithium consumption, while the center region receives larger volumes (2-5 μm depth) matching its higher consumption. This localized approach ensures each region receives exactly the lithium it needs, preventing both precipitation and capacity loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Object-affected harmful factors

If insufficient lithium replenishment is applied, then safety is maintained, but energy density and lifespan improvement are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium precipitation preventionVSAvoidenergy density
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves optimal energy density by applying local quality - the center region receives sufficient lithium replenishment (larger volumes) to maximize capacity and energy density, while the edge region receives controlled replenishment (smaller volumes) to prevent precipitation. This localized optimization ensures maximum energy density improvement without compromising safety.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4336586B1Electrode plate and manufacturing method therefor, electrode assembly, secondary battery, and electric apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 CONTEMPORARY AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY (HONG KONG) LIMITED
  • EP4336586B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4336586B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4336586B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present application relates to an electrode plate (10) and a manufacturing method therefor, an electrode assembly, a secondary battery (100), and a power consuming device. Lithium replenishing spaces (13) are disposed on a current collection structure (11), such that the lithium replenishing spaces (13) communicate with an active layer (12) on one side; and the battery (100) is replenished with lithium by using lithium replenishing agents in the lithium replenishing spaces (13) to offset an irreversible lithium consumption in a cycle process, so as to increase the total capacity and the energy density of the battery (100). According to the present application, due to average weights MA of corresponding active materials in different distribution regions (14) on the active layer (12), a sum V0 of internal volumes of lithium replenishing spaces (13) corresponding to each of the distribution regions (14) is controlled in a positively correlated manner based on a change in the average weights of the active materials in the different distribution regions (14), that is, a sum of internal volumes of corresponding lithium replenishing spaces (13) in a second distribution region (14b) is relatively large, and a sum of internal volumes of corresponding lithium replenishing spaces (13) in a first distribution region (14a) is relatively small. As a result, the different distribution regions (14) are replenished with different lithium. This implements quantitative and precise lithium replenishment, thereby increasing the energy density of the battery (100) and prolonging the lifespan of the battery.