Integrated Cell Heating for Cold-Charge Lithium-Ion Batteries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium-ion cells face challenges in charging at cold temperatures, as ions in the electrolyte deposit in metal form on the active material, leading to the risk of dendrite formation and thermal runaway.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a heating element into the electrochemical cell, which can include a conductive material and an insulative material, to provide heat and enable charging at lower temperatures, while also enhancing thermal mass for heat dissipation during balancing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If traditional water or pad heating methods are used to heat electrochemical cells, then the cells can be charged at cold temperatures, but the system cost increases and assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell temperatureVSAvoidassembly complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is integrated directly into the cell structure by disposing it on the cathode current collector, merging the heating function with the existing cell components. This eliminates the need for separate external heating systems (water channels or heating pads) and reduces assembly complexity while maintaining the ability to heat the cell at cold temperatures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If lithium-ion cells are charged at cold temperatures without heating, then charging speed is maintained, but dendrite formation occurs and thermal runaway risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging speedVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element performs preliminary heating of the cell before charging begins, raising the cell temperature to a safe range where ions can be properly absorbed by the active material. This preliminary temperature adjustment prevents the harmful effects of cold-temperature charging (dendrite formation and thermal runaway) while allowing subsequent fast charging at safe temperatures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 heating element allows for safe charging of lithium-ion cells at cold temperatures by preventing dendrite formation and thermal runaway, while also increasing the efficiency of heat dissipation during balancing, thus improving overall cell performance.

Implementation Method 1

the heating element may include a conductive material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectResistive heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 2

the metallic sheet including grooves for dissipation of heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat dissipation: Thermal Radiation

Data Source

PatentUS20250192188A1Systems, devices, and methods for providing heat to electrochemical cells and electrochemical cell stacks

Publication Date: 2025.06.12 24M TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

The embodiments described herein involve electrochemical cells that have a heating element integrated into the electrochemical cell. In some aspects, an electrochemical cell comprises an anode current collector, an anode material disposed on the anode current collector, a cathode current collector, a cathode material disposed on a first side of the cathode current collector, a separator disposed between the anode material and the cathode material, and a heating element disposed on a second side of the cathode current collector, the second side opposite the first side. The heating element may include an electrically conductive material and a conductive material and disposed in an insulative material.