Gradient-Coated Electrode Plate for Faster-Charging Lithium Batteries

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Solution Overview

Problem

The increasing coating weight and thickness of electrode plates in lithium batteries lead to longer charge transfer paths, reduced charge and discharge rate capabilities, shortened cycle life, and compromised safety.

Innovation Solution

The electrode plate design involves a current collector with a first coating and a second coating, where the Ol value of the second coating is less than that of the first, optimizing the Ol value ratio between 1.1 and 2.0 to enhance dynamic performance, charge rate capability, and cycle life, while ensuring consistency and preventing lithium plating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If coating weight and coating thickness are increased to improve energy density, then energy density is improved, but charge transfer path becomes longer and charge rate capability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy densityVSAvoidcharge rate capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The coating layer is divided into two distinct coatings with different Ol values. The first coating (closer to current collector) has higher Ol value (5-80) and the second coating (outer layer) has lower Ol value (3-40), creating a gradient structure that optimizes both energy storage and charge transfer performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the coating are assigned different Ol values to perform different functions. The inner coating region (higher Ol) provides energy storage capacity while the outer coating region (lower Ol) facilitates charge transfer, achieving local optimization of both contradictory requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Use of energy by moving object

If coating thickness is increased to improve energy density, then energy density is improved, but cycle life is shortened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy densityVSAvoidcycle life
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The thick coating is segmented into two layers with different Ol values, where the outer coating with lower Ol value protects the inner coating with higher Ol value, reducing degradation and extending cycle life while maintaining energy density

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The outer coating with lower Ol value acts as a protective layer that cushions and reduces the mechanical and chemical stress on the inner coating during charge-discharge cycles, preventing premature failure and extending cycle life

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Use of energy by moving object

If coating thickness is increased to improve energy density, then energy density is improved, but safety is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy densityVSAvoidsafety
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coating is divided into two safety-oriented layers: the inner coating with higher Ol value provides structural stability while the outer coating with lower Ol value prevents lithium plating and dendrite formation, collectively improving safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The gradient Ol value structure converts the potential harm of thick coating (lithium plating, dendrites) into benefit by using the outer low-Ol coating to prevent these issues while maintaining the energy density benefits of the thick overall coating structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS20240372066A1Electrode Plate and Battery Having the Same
Publication Date: 2024.11.07 JIANGSU ZENIO NEW ENERGY BATTERY TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed are an electrode plate and a battery having the same. The electrode plate includes a current collector, a first coating and a second coating, the first coating is coated on at least one surface of the current collector, the second coating is coated on a surface of the first coating away from the current collector, and an Ol value of the second coating is less than an Ol value of the first coating. Compared with the related art, the electrode plate of the disclosure divides a thick coating layer into the first coating and the second coating for separate coating in order to ensure an energy density of the battery, and then the Ol value of the second coating is set to be less than that of the first coating. Therefore, an entire Ol value of the electrode plate is low.