High-Density Lithium Metal Oxide Anode Particles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium titanium oxides used in anode active materials for lithium secondary batteries have lower electrical conductivity than carbon materials, requiring increased binder content for electrode adhesion, which limits charge rates and increases production costs.
Innovation Solution
Developing an anode active material with high-density lithium metal oxide particles having specific internal porosity (3-8%) and average particle diameter (5-12 μm), achieved through a spray drying method using a precursor solution of lithium salt and metal oxide, which reduces binder requirements and improves electrode adhesion and charge rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lithium titanium oxide is used as anode active material, then structural stability and safety are improved, but electrical conductivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous materials by controlling the internal porosity of lithium titanium oxide particles to be within 0.1-2.0 mL/g. The porous structure increases the surface area and provides pathways for electron and ion transport, thereby improving electrical conductivity while maintaining the structural stability of the lithium titanium oxide framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing multiple parameters including particle size (5-12 μm), internal porosity (0.1-2.0 mL/g), and binder content (1-5 wt%). By systematically adjusting these parameters, the patent achieves both structural stability and improved electrical conductivity, resolving the contradiction between reliability and electrical conductivity.
2Speed
If atomization is performed to improve charge rates, then charge rate is improved, but binder content must increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the particle size to 5-12 μm and controlling internal porosity to 0.1-2.0 mL/g. These parameter optimizations improve charge rates through enhanced ion diffusion pathways while maintaining sufficient adhesion with minimal binder content (1-5 wt%), thus resolving the contradiction between charge rate and binder content.
3Speed
If particle size is reduced to improve charge rates, then charge rate is improved, but adhesion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous materials by creating an internal porous structure within the particles. This porous structure provides enhanced surface area and adhesion sites, allowing smaller particles (5-12 μm) to maintain strong adhesion to the current collector while the porous pathways facilitate rapid ion diffusion for improved charge rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by simultaneously optimizing particle size (5-12 μm), internal porosity (0.1-2.0 mL/g), and binder content (1-5 wt%). This multi-parameter optimization ensures that reduced particle size for improved charge rates does not compromise adhesion, as the porous structure and controlled binder content compensate for the smaller size.
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 high-density lithium metal oxide particles enhance electrode adhesion and charge rates while reducing binder usage, making the battery production more efficient and cost-effective, with improved high-rate characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
spraying the precursor solution in the chamber and drying
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an anode active material including lithium metal oxide particles having an internal porosity ranging from 3% to 8% and an average particle diameter (D50) ranging from 5 μm to 12 μm. According to the present invention, since the high-density lithium metal oxide particles are included, the adhesion to an anode may be significantly improved even by using the same or smaller amount of a binder that is required during the preparation of an anode slurry, and high rate characteristics of a secondary battery may be improved by decreasing the average particle diameter of the lithium metal oxide particles.