Encapsulated Lithium Particles for Stable Electrochemical Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium metal is unstable and reactive, posing safety concerns and limiting its shelf life due to its flammability in oxygen-containing environments and moisture, which complicates its use in electrochemical devices like lithium ion capacitors.
Innovation Solution
Encapsulated lithium particles with a lithium metal core coated in a shell comprising a lithium salt, oil, and optional binder are developed, providing stability against oxygen and moisture, and can be easily integrated into electrodes using a single-step coating method at lower temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If lithium metal is used directly in electrochemical devices, then high energy density is achieved, but stability and safety deteriorate due to flammability in oxygen-containing environments and moisture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite structure where lithium metal particles are coated with a shell comprising lithium salt, oil, and optional binder. This composite encapsulation provides both the high energy density of lithium metal and the stability/safety of the protective shell, resolving the contradiction between energy density and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The shell coating creates an inert protective environment around the lithium metal particles, shielding them from oxygen and moisture in the external environment. This allows the lithium metal to maintain its high energy density while the inert shell ensures stability and safety during storage and handling
2Reliability
If lithium metal is stabilized through coating, then stability against oxygen and moisture is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin film shell coating composed of lithium salt, oil, and optional binder that encapsulates the lithium metal particles. This thin film approach provides effective protection against oxygen and moisture while adding minimal structural complexity, maintaining simplicity in the overall device design
Solution Approach 2:
The shell coating serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides protection against oxygen and moisture, enables safe handling of lithium metal, and maintains compatibility with electrochemical cell chemistry. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
3Ease of operation
If lithium metal is handled without encapsulation, then ease of operation is maintained, but harmful factors increase due to flammability and reactivity
Solution Approach 1:
The shell coating acts as an intermediary layer between the lithium metal particles and the external environment. This intermediary shell comprises lithium salt, oil, and optional binder, providing a safe interface that allows easy handling of lithium metal while preventing direct contact between the reactive lithium and oxygen/moisture, thereby eliminating flammability and reactivity hazards
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
The encapsulated lithium particles enhance the stability and safety of lithium metal, allowing for reliable handling and integration into devices, improving discharge rate performance and extending storage stability, while maintaining compatibility with electrochemical cell chemistry.
Implementation Method 1
Encapsulated lithium particles with a lithium metal core coated in a shell comprising a lithium salt, oil, and optional binder are developed, providing stability against oxygen and moisture
Implementation Method 2
can be easily integrated into electrodes using a single-step coating method at lower temperatures
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2A~2B
AI summary
An encapsulated lithium particle (100) including: • a core (110) comprised of at least one of: lithium; a lithium metal alloy; or a combination thereof; and • a shell (120) comprised of a lithium salt, an oil, and optionally a binder, and • the shell encapsulates the core, and the particle size is from 10 to 500 microns. Also, disclosed is a method of making the particle and using the particle in electrical devices such as a capacitor or a battery.