Hybrid Carbon Negative Electrode for Low-Temperature Battery Rate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium ion secondary batteries face challenges in maintaining high input-output characteristics, especially at low temperatures, due to issues with cycle performance and safety related to dendrite formation and irreversible capacity when using traditional carbon materials as negative electrodes.

Innovation Solution

A carbon material composed of hybrid particles with graphite and carbon fine particles of specific size ranges, coated with amorphous carbon, is used as a negative electrode active material, enhancing Raman R(90/10) values and BET specific surface area to improve low-temperature performance and peel strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of stationary object

If graphite is used as negative electrode material, then cycle performance is superior and electrode expansion is small, but irreversible capacity is large and rate characteristics are inferior

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecycle performanceVSAvoidrate characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite carbon material consisting of graphite particles (3-50 μm) combined with carbon fine particles (0.003-0.5 μm) having low crystallinity. This composite structure combines the advantages of graphite (small expansion, good cycle performance) with the advantages of low-crystallinity carbon (fast Li-ion insertion/extraction, low irreversible capacity), thereby resolving the contradiction between cycle performance and rate characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Device complexity

If traditional carbon materials are used as negative electrodes, then battery structure is simple, but input-output characteristics deteriorate at low temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery structureVSAvoidinput-output characteristics at low temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a heterogeneous carbon material where different regions have different properties: graphite particles provide structural stability while dispersed carbon fine particles with low crystallinity provide fast ion transport pathways. This local differentiation of material properties enables good input-output characteristics at low temperatures without complicating the overall battery structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If carbon material with low crystallinity is added to graphite, then rate characteristics improve, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverate characteristicsVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary action by pre-synthesizing carbon fine particles with controlled low crystallinity and specific size distribution before combining them with graphite particles. This pre-preparation of materials with optimized properties simplifies the final composite material fabrication process, making it easier to manufacture while achieving improved rate characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10720645B2Carbon material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, negative electrode for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and manufacturing method for carbon material for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery
Publication Date: 2020.07.21 MITSUBISHI CHEM CORP

AI summary

An objet of the invention is to provide a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery superior in input-output characteristics even at a low temperature. To achieve the object, hybrid particles (carbon material) satisfying certain conditions, and composed of graphite particles and carbon particles with a primary particle size from 3 nm to 500 nm, preferably as well as amorphous carbon, are used as a negative electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery, so that the input-output characteristics of a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery at a low temperature can be improved remarkably.