Electrode Tab Protective Groove Structure for Short-Circuit Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrode assemblies face safety risks due to burrs on negative electrode plates causing short circuits and increased thickness leading to reduced energy density.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a protective layer into an accommodating groove on the active material layer and covering the empty foil portion of the electrode plate, reducing the protrusion of the protective layer and minimizing direct contact with the active material to decrease the overall thickness and enhance safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective layer is directly set on a tab and active material layer to prevent short circuits, then safety is improved, but overall thickness of the electrode plate is increased and energy density is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layer is arranged within the accommodating groove formed on the active material layer, nesting the protective function inside the existing structure rather than adding external thickness. This allows the protective layer to be housed within the groove depth, preventing it from increasing the overall electrode plate thickness while still providing safety protection against short circuits
Solution Approach 2:
The solution transitions from a planar protective layer arrangement to a three-dimensional arrangement by utilizing the accommodating groove. The protective layer is positioned in the vertical dimension within the groove rather than extending horizontally, changing the spatial dimension of protection and avoiding thickness increase in the electrode plate's overall structure
2Reliability
If a protective layer is set on the tab and active material layer to prevent short circuits, then safety is improved, but energy density is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layer is nested within the accommodating groove, utilizing the existing volume of the active material layer structure. This nesting approach ensures that the protective layer occupies space that would otherwise be part of the electrode's internal structure, rather than adding external volume that would displace active material and reduce energy density
Solution Approach 2:
The protective layer is merged with the active material layer structure by integrating it into the accommodating groove. This merging allows the protective function to be combined with the existing electrode structure without adding separate, volume-consuming components, thereby maintaining higher energy density while achieving safety protection
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode assembly includes: a first electrode plate, a second electrode plate, and a separator arranged therebetween, where the first electrode plate includes a first current collector and a first active material layer, the first current collector includes a first main body portion and a first empty foil portion, and the first empty foil portion extends along a first direction to form a tab of the first electrode plate; and the first active material layer is arranged in the first main body portion, the first active material layer is provided with a first accommodating groove concave along a second direction, and the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction; and a first protective layer, including a first part and a second part, where the first part is arranged in the first accommodating groove, and the second part is arranged on a surface of the first empty foil portion.