Graphite Anode Composition for Single-Press Cycle-Stable Batteries

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Solution Overview

Problem

The production of non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries with high energy density faces challenges in maintaining charging/discharging cyclic characteristics due to the need for multiple compression steps, which reduces productivity and can lead to deterioration in battery performance.

Innovation Solution

A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery design incorporating a negative electrode active material layer composed of graphite particles with porosities of 5% or less and 8-20%, in a specific mass ratio of 70:30 to 90:10, allowing for a single compression step while maintaining high packing density and suppressing cyclic deterioration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If graphite particles with low porosity (5% or less) are used to suppress deterioration in charging/discharging cyclic characteristics, then reliability is improved, but multiple compression steps are required which reduces productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging/discharging cyclic characteristicsVSAvoidproductivity of batteries
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite material system consisting of two types of graphite particles with different porosity characteristics. Graphite particles A (5% or less porosity) provide reliability by suppressing cyclic deterioration, while graphite particles B (8-20% porosity) enable high packing density with single compression. The composite mixture achieves both reliability and productivity goals that neither component alone can satisfy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Manufacturing precision

If multiple compression steps are carried out to obtain high packing density with low porosity graphite particles, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity and production time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacking density of negative electrode active material layerVSAvoidnumber of compression steps
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different functional characteristics to different components within the graphite particle mixture. Graphite particles A provide local regions of low porosity for reliability, while graphite particles B provide local regions of appropriate porosity that facilitate packing during compression. This local differentiation allows single compression to achieve the packing density that would otherwise require multiple compression steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the porosity due to closed pores of graphite particles is reduced to suppress deterioration, then reliability is improved, but the ability to collapse by compression is reduced requiring more compression steps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesuppression of deterioration in charging/discharging cyclic characteristicsVSAvoidease of compression during negative electrode manufacturing
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Graphite particles B act as an intermediary component that facilitates the compression process. Their moderate porosity (8-20%) allows them to collapse during compression, creating space and enabling the overall mixture to achieve high packing density in a single compression step, while graphite particles A maintain their low porosity structure for reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3809494B1Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
Publication Date: 2024.08.14 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP3809494B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3809494B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3809494B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The objective of the present disclosure is to provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery capable of suppressing an increase in man-hour for a compression process in the production of a negative electrode and also suppressing a deterioration in charge/discharge cycle characteristics. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material layer, wherein: the negative electrode active material layer includes graphite particles A and graphite particles B as a negative electrode active material; the internal porosity of the graphite particles A is 5% or less, and the internal porosity of the graphite particles B is 8-20%; and the mass ratio of the graphite particles A to the graphite particles B is 70:30 to 90:10.