Lithium-Ion Capacitor Pre-Lithiation Using Holey Lithium Films
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional pre-lithiation methods for lithium-ion capacitors (LICs) are time-consuming and costly, requiring porous current collectors and taking around 20 days to fully lithiate the negative electrodes, which increases manufacturing costs and processing time.
Innovation Solution
The use of lithium strips and ultra-thin lithium films with holes pre-loaded onto the surface of the negative electrodes facilitates faster and more efficient lithium ion intercalation, eliminating the need for porous current collectors and reducing processing time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional pre-lithiation methods (electrochemical or external short circuit) are used with Li metal sacrificial electrode, then lithium can be pre-doped into negative electrode, but the process takes about 20 days and increases manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
Lithium strips or ultra-thin lithium films are pre-loaded onto the negative electrode surface before cell assembly, eliminating the need for time-consuming post-assembly pre-lithiation processes. This preliminary action ensures lithium is immediately available for intercalation, reducing processing time from 20 days to minimal time while maintaining effective lithium pre-doping.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the Li metal sacrificial third electrode from the conventional pre-lithiation system. By directly loading lithium sources onto the negative electrode, the complex multi-electrode configuration is simplified to a two-electrode system, reducing device complexity and manufacturing cost while achieving the same lithium pre-doping effect.
2Reliability
If conventional pre-lithiation methods are used, then lithium pre-doping can be achieved, but porous current collectors are required which increases manufacturing cost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the requirement for porous current collectors by directly loading lithium sources onto the negative electrode surface. This simplifies the electrode structure and removes the need for expensive porous materials, reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining effective lithium pre-doping.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention reverses the conventional approach by not requiring porous current collectors. Instead, lithium sources are directly applied to the electrode surface, eliminating the need for porous structures and associated manufacturing costs while achieving uniform lithium distribution.
3Productivity
If lithium strips and ultra-thin lithium films with holes are pre-loaded onto negative electrode surface, then processing time is reduced and manufacturing cost decreases, but uniform lithium distribution must be ensured
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies lithium sources with specific local characteristics - ultra-thin lithium films with holes or lithium strips positioned at specific locations on the negative electrode surface. This local quality approach ensures uniform lithium distribution by controlling the spatial arrangement and morphology of lithium sources, achieving both high productivity and manufacturing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses ultra-thin lithium films with holes as the lithium source, which flexibly conform to the negative electrode surface. This thin film structure ensures uniform lithium distribution by providing close contact with the electrode while the holes facilitate electrolyte penetration and uniform lithium release, achieving both high processing efficiency and manufacturing precision.
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
This approach enhances the electrochemical performance and cycle life of LICs by ensuring uniform lithium distribution on the negative electrodes, leading to improved energy and power densities while reducing manufacturing costs and time.
Implementation Method 1
facilitates faster and more efficient lithium ion intercalation
Implementation Method 2
organic solvent electrolyte with lithium salt for high performance
Data Source
AI summary
A lithium-ion capacitor (LIC) is provided which includes positive electrodes, negative electrodes pre-loaded on surface with lithium sources including lithium strips and ultra-thin lithium films having holes, separators and organic solvent electrolyte with lithium salt for high performance including high energy density, high power density, long cycle life, long DC life and wide temperature ranges. A method for making an LIC is also provided, where cell components important to optimize the electrochemical performance of LIC's are configured, said components include PE active material and binders, NE active material and binders, thickness/mass ratio of positive electrode (PE) to negative electrode (NE) active layers, PE and NE's size designs and layer numbers, types of material for Separators and NE pre-lithiation methods, NE pre-lithiation includes loading various lithium (Li) sources including lithium strips and ultra-thin lithium films having holes onto the surface of NE.