Flexible Electrochemical Device with Non-Uniform Casing Thickness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lithium secondary batteries face challenges in flexibility and durability when bent, as existing designs do not effectively manage the thickness and structural integrity of conductive lines and electrolytes within the casing, leading to potential disconnection and reduced performance.
Innovation Solution
The electrochemical device features a casing member with distinct accommodation and connecting portions, where the connecting portion is thinner than the accommodation portions, allowing for flexible bending while maintaining electrical connectivity through conductive lines and electrolyte pathways, and includes a design with a sheet-type conductive line and insulating layers to prevent stress and disconnection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the casing member has uniform thickness throughout, then structural strength is maintained, but flexibility and bendability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The casing member is designed with non-uniform thickness: the first and second accommodation portions have a first thickness to maintain structural strength, while the connecting portion has a second thickness that is smaller than the first thickness to enable flexibility and bending. This local differentiation of thickness allows different regions of the casing to serve different functions - strength where needed and flexibility where needed.
2Reliability
If the connecting portion has the same thickness as accommodation portions, then structural integrity is maintained, but electrical connectivity during bending is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting portion of the casing member is designed with a smaller thickness specifically to accommodate the conductive line and allow it to bend without disconnection. This localized structural modification ensures electrical connectivity is maintained during device bending while the rest of the casing maintains its structural integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the conductive line is rigidly fixed in the casing, then electrical connectivity is ensured, but flexibility and repeated bending capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The casing member's connecting portion is designed with reduced thickness to create a flexible region that allows the conductive line to bend repeatedly without disconnection. This flexible thin-film-like structure enables the device to be bent multiple times while maintaining electrical connectivity, unlike rigid fixation methods.
4Ease of operation
If the casing member is made thinner overall, then flexibility is improved, but structural strength and protection are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The casing member employs non-uniform thickness distribution: accommodation portions maintain a larger first thickness to provide structural strength and protection for the electrode assemblies, while the connecting portion has a smaller second thickness to provide flexibility. This local differentiation ensures protection where needed while enabling flexibility where required.
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible electrochemical device in which a plurality of electrode assemblies is electrically connected to each other so that the flexible electrochemical device may be repeatedly bent, includes at least two electrode assemblies that are arranged separate from each other and a casing member that packs the at least two electrode assemblies and includes at least two accommodation portions in which electrode assemblies are individually received, and a connecting portion that connects the at least two adjacent accommodation portions where a path between a conductive line that electrically connects at least two electrode assemblies together and an electrolyte is defined in the connecting portion.