Folded Separation Membrane for Uniform Electrolyte Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries face issues with uniform electrolyte solution permeation, deformation, and short circuits due to separation membrane shrinkage or external impacts, leading to reduced capacity and lifespan.
Innovation Solution
An electrode assembly design featuring a separation membrane with specific bonding portions and a structure that alternately stacks positive and negative electrodes, ensuring uniform electrolyte distribution and preventing direct contact between electrodes, thereby enhancing safety and capacity without increasing assembly size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a stack type electrode assembly is manufactured through heating and attaching electrodes to the separation membrane, then structural stability is improved, but uniform electrolyte solution permeation deteriorates and lifespan is shortened
Solution Approach 1:
The separation membrane is divided into multiple receiving portions that are folded and stacked, creating a segmented structure. This segmentation allows the electrolyte solution to permeate uniformly through each receiving portion, preventing the nonuniform wetting that occurs in conventional stacked structures, thereby extending battery lifespan while maintaining structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The separation membrane is folded into a nested structure where receiving portions are arranged in layers. This nested configuration enables the electrolyte solution to access and permeate through multiple receiving portions systematically, ensuring uniform distribution without requiring high-temperature heating that would cause membrane shrinkage and nonuniform electrolyte penetration.
2Strength
If the separation membrane is heated to attach electrodes, then bonding strength is improved, but separation membrane shrinkage occurs causing short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The separation membrane is pre-formed with receiving portions and folded into the final nested structure before electrode attachment. This preliminary structuring eliminates the need for subsequent high-temperature heating that would cause membrane shrinkage, while still achieving adequate bonding through alternative methods that preserve membrane dimensions and prevent short circuits.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If external impact is applied to the battery, then structural deformation may occur, but short circuit risk increases due to separation membrane shrinkage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of attempting to prevent short circuits by making the separation membrane more rigid and heat-resistant, the invention inverts the approach by creating a nested folded structure that inherently maintains electrode separation through its geometric configuration. This inverted design allows the membrane to accommodate external impacts without shrinkage-induced short circuits, as the folded receiving portions maintain their shape and separation function.
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 solution improves the lifespan and safety of rechargeable batteries by ensuring uniform electrolyte distribution and preventing short circuits, while also simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing the risk of electrode misalignment.
Implementation Method 1
a separation membrane (300) including a plurality of receiving portions (31) arranged at intervals and respectively accommodating the first electrode portions (11), the separation membrane being folded so that surfaces of adjacent ones of the receiving portions (31) face each other
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode assembly includes: a plurality of first electrodes, each including a first electrode portion having a first active material layer thereon and a first uncoated region electrically connected to the first electrode portion; a separation membrane including a plurality of receiving portions arranged at intervals and respectively accommodating the first electrode portions, the separation membrane being folded so that surfaces of adjacent ones of the receiving portions face each other; and a plurality of second electrodes respectively positioned between adjacent ones of the receiving portions that face each other to overlap a corresponding one of the first electrode portions. The plurality of second electrodes each include a second electrode portion having a second active material layer thereon and a second uncoated region electrically connected to the second electrode portion.