Gel Polymer Electrolyte Curing via Induction-Heated Current Collectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for manufacturing lithium secondary batteries using gel polymer electrolytes face challenges in uniformly heat-curing the composition, leading to increased interface resistance, reduced battery lifespan, and safety concerns due to non-uniform heat application from external heating sources.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a fixing member with an electromagnetic field generation means, such as an inductor with a winding coil, is used to heat the metal electrode current collector internally, ensuring uniform heat-curing of the gel polymer electrolyte composition, reducing interface resistance and improving battery performance and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a light emitting means or heat generation means is located near the outer side of the case to perform curing, then the curing process can be implemented, but the composition for gel polymer electrolyte is not uniformly cured
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of heating from the outside of the battery case, the patent inverts the approach by placing the heating means (electromagnetic field generation means) inside the battery case to heat the metal electrode current collector from within. This internal heating approach ensures uniform heat distribution throughout the gel polymer electrolyte composition, resolving the non-uniform curing issue caused by external heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the metal electrode current collector as an intermediary element that absorbs electromagnetic energy and converts it to heat. This intermediary then transfers the heat uniformly to the gel polymer electrolyte composition, achieving uniform curing that direct external heating cannot provide.
2Ease of manufacture
If external heat application is used to cure the gel polymer electrolyte composition, then curing can be achieved, but interface resistance increases and battery safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the heating direction from external to internal by placing the electromagnetic field generation means inside the battery case. This allows the metal electrode current collector to be heated from within, ensuring uniform heat distribution that reduces interface resistance and improves battery safety while maintaining effective curing.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal electrode current collector serves a dual function: it is both a structural component of the battery and the heating element itself. By using the current collector as the target of electromagnetic heating, the system achieves self-heating that uniformly cures the gel polymer electrolyte without requiring external heat sources, thereby improving safety and reducing interface resistance.
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
This approach allows for uniform heat transfer within the battery, enhancing the lifespan and capacity properties of lithium secondary batteries while ensuring improved safety by avoiding direct external heat application, resulting in reduced interface resistance and stable charge transfer reactions.
Implementation Method 1
heating the metal electrode current collector using the electromagnetic field generation means
Implementation Method 2
electromagnetic field generation means to uniformly heat-cure a composition for a gel polymer electrolyte
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a lithium secondary battery, the method including injecting a composition for a gel polymer electrolyte into a lithium secondary battery case having an electrode assembly including a metal electrode current collector and then sealing the same, placing the lithium secondary battery case inside a fixing member having an electromagnetic field generation means, and heating the metal electrode current collector using the electromagnetic field generation means, to heat-cure the composition for a gel polymer electrolyte.