Lithiated Electrode Low-Temperature Annealing for Microbatteries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium metal anodes in microbatteries have limitations due to high reactivity and require high-temperature encapsulation, which increases costs and restricts high-temperature usage, and lithiated insertion materials necessitate high-temperature annealing incompatible with 'above-IC' technology.
Innovation Solution
A process involving the deposition of alternating layers of non-lithiated electrode material and lithium on a substrate, followed by thermal annealing at temperatures below 300°C to promote lithium diffusion, forming a homogeneous lithiated electrode suitable for use in thin-film lithium batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If lithium metal anodes are used in microbatteries, then high energy density is achieved, but high reactivity requires high-temperature encapsulation which increases costs and restricts high-temperature usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the anode from pure lithium metal to a lithiated insertion material with controlled lithium content. This parameter change reduces reactivity while maintaining energy density, eliminating the need for high-temperature encapsulation processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite anode structure combining insertion material host lattice with intercalated lithium ions. This composite approach provides both the high energy density of lithium-containing materials and the stability of the insertion material framework, resolving the contradiction between energy density and manufacturing complexity
2Stability of the object's composition
If lithiated insertion materials are used as cathode, then stability is improved, but high-temperature annealing above 600°C is required which is incompatible with above-IC technology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal processing parameters from high-temperature annealing (>600°C) to low-temperature processing (<300°C). This parameter change enables the use of lithiated insertion materials compatible with above-IC technology while still achieving sufficient crystallization and stability through optimized deposition conditions and controlled lithium intercalation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary lithiation during the deposition process itself rather than requiring subsequent high-temperature annealing. By incorporating lithium during low-temperature deposition or mild annealing, the insertion material achieves its lithiated state before being subjected to high-temperature processing, thus enabling compatibility with microelectronics fabrication
3Reliability
If high-temperature annealing is performed to favor crystallization and stability, then material stability is improved, but compatibility with above-IC technology is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the temperature parameter from high-temperature annealing (>600°C) to low-temperature processing (<300°C). This parameter change enables simultaneous achievement of material stability and compatibility with above-IC technology by using controlled deposition conditions and low-temperature lithium intercalation instead of high-temperature annealing
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 process enables the production of lithiated electrodes compatible with microelectronics and 'above-IC' configurations, avoiding high-temperature processing and allowing for controlled lithium addition, enhancing the stability and compatibility of lithium microbatteries.
Implementation Method 1
thermal annealing of the multilayer thus formed... promote the diffusion of lithium into the non-lithiated electrode material
Implementation Method 2
The thin films are produced by physical vapour deposition (PVD) or by chemical vapour deposition (CVD)... deposition, on a substrate, of several layers of a non-lithiated electrode material and several lithium layers
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a process for manufacturing a lithiated electrode, which comprises:the deposition, on a substrate, of several layers of a non-lithiated electrode material and several lithium layers in order to form a multilayer consisting of an alternation of layers of non-lithiated electrode material and lithium layers, this multilayer starting with and terminating with a layer of non-lithiated electrode material; andthe thermal annealing of the multilayer thus formed.It also relates to a lithiated electrode that can be obtained by this process and to the uses of this electrode: production of thin-film lithium batteries, especially microbatteries for chip cards, “smart” labels, horological articles, miniaturized communications tools, microsystems; production of thin-film supercapacitors and electrochromic cells.