Graphite Film Electrode Divider Ring for Sealed Energy Storage Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Energy storage devices with multiple cells face challenges in manufacturability, reliability, and performance due to electrolyte leakage and component incompatibility, leading to electrical shorting and degradation.
Innovation Solution
The use of a graphite film and an electrode divider ring to form a sealed enclosure within each energy storage cell, preventing electrolyte leakage and ensuring stable operation by using graphite films as conductive plates and electrode collectors, which are chemically and mechanically stable with various electrolytes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple individual energy storage cells are enclosed in a common external housing, then the energy storage device can provide increased energy capacity, but electrolyte leakage and component incompatibility occur leading to electrical shorting and degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the energy storage device into multiple individual cells, each with its own sealed enclosure formed by graphite films and electrode divider rings. This segmentation isolates electrolyte within each cell, preventing leakage between cells that would cause electrical shorting, while still achieving increased energy capacity through the combination of multiple cells arranged in series or parallel configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The graphite film acts as an intermediary sealing barrier between the electrolyte and external environment, as well as between adjacent cells. The electrode divider ring serves as an intermediary structural component that maintains separation and electrical isolation between cells, preventing direct contact between electrolytes from different cells that would cause shorting
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional sealing methods are used in multiple cell configurations, then manufacturing is simplified, but electrolyte leakage occurs causing electrical shorting and device degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin graphite films as flexible sealing barriers that conform to the cell structure and provide effective electrolyte containment. These thin film enclosures are integrated with the electrode structures themselves, eliminating the need for separate rigid sealing components while preventing electrolyte leakage that would cause electrical shorting between cells
3Stability of the object's composition
If graphite films are used as conductive plates and electrode collectors, then chemical and mechanical stability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The graphite film serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the conductive plate for electrical current collection, provides the sealing barrier for electrolyte containment, and serves as a structural component of the electrode assembly. This multi-functionality integrates what would otherwise be separate components, reducing the number of assembly steps and manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining chemical stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of the conductive plate, sealing barrier, and electrode structure into a single graphite film component. By combining these functions, the invention eliminates the need for precise alignment and sealing between multiple separate parts, thereby reducing manufacturing precision requirements while achieving both electrical conductivity and electrolyte containment
Data Source
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AI summary
An energy storage device can have a first graphite film, a second graphite film and an electrode divider ring between the first graphite film and the second graphite film, forming a sealed enclosure. The energy storage device may be compatible with an aqueous electrolyte or a non-aqueous electrolyte. A method of forming an energy storage device can include providing an electrode divider ring, a first graphite film and a second graphite film. The method can include pressing a first edge of the electrode divider ring into a surface of the first graphite film, and pressing a second opposing edge of the electrode divider ring into a surface of the second graphite film to form a sealed enclosure. The sealed enclosure may have as opposing surfaces the surface of the first graphite film and the surface of the second graphite film.