Flexible Rechargeable Battery with Conductive Substrate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional pouch-type batteries are not sufficiently flexible and can be damaged by repeated bending due to compressive and tensile stresses, limiting their durability and usability in flexible applications.

Innovation Solution

A flexible rechargeable battery design featuring a conductive substrate that serves as both the electrode and exterior member, with a multi-layered structure including resin layers and a barrier layer for moisture prevention, allowing for reduced thickness and enhanced flexibility while maintaining capacity and stability under stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a general pouch type battery is repeatedly bent with a constant curvature radius, then flexibility is improved, but the battery receives compressive stress and tensile stress and may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoiddamage resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The battery adopts a flexible pouch structure with thin film electrodes and separator, eliminating rigid components. The pouch is sealed at edges to contain the electrolyte while allowing the entire structure to bend without structural failure, enabling repeated bending without damage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The battery uses composite material construction with alternating layers of positive electrode, separator, and negative electrode. Each layer is designed with appropriate mechanical properties to withstand bending stresses, creating a composite structure that maintains integrity during flexing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Adaptability or versatility

If the battery structure is simplified to improve flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing precision may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The battery is segmented into discrete alternating layers of positive electrode, separator, and negative electrode. Each layer can be manufactured separately with precise control over thickness and composition, then stacked in sequence. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each layer's manufacturing parameters while maintaining overall alignment precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The separator serves multiple functions: it physically separates the positive and negative electrodes to prevent short circuits, provides a support structure for the electrolyte, and acts as a mechanical barrier. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining manufacturing precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3174131B1Flexible rechargeable battery
Publication Date: 2020.08.05 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP3174131B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3174131B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3174131B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A battery includes a conductive substrate, the conductive substrate including a first resin layer, a barrier layer, a second resin layer, a first electrode current collector layer, and a first electrode coating layer that are sequentially stacked inward from an outermost side of the battery, an exterior member disposed to face the conductive substrate, a sealing portion formed at edges of the conductive substrate and the exterior member, and at least one first inner electrode positioned between the conductive substrate and the exterior member and stacked using a separator as a border.