Lithium-Air Battery Anode Composite Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lithium-air batteries face challenges in maintaining compact size while increasing energy and input/output density, due to inefficiencies in mounting space and durability issues with laminate films, particularly with bonding polypropylene and glass ceramics.
Innovation Solution
A lithium-air battery design featuring a lithium anode composite with plate-shaped anode and isolating layers, and an air electrode with a conductive material, where the anode and air electrodes are alternately stacked and connected in parallel, eliminating the need for laminate films and optimizing electrolyte usage within a gas-permeable case.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a number of air batteries having the same structure is used or an air battery is upsized to increase input/output density, then the input/output density is improved, but the mounting space is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a planar arrangement of air batteries to a three-dimensional stacked configuration where multiple air batteries are vertically arranged within a compact housing. This vertical stacking enables increased input/output density without proportionally increasing the horizontal mounting space footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a nested structure where multiple air batteries are compactly arranged within a shared housing space. The batteries are positioned in a space-efficient configuration that maximizes the use of available volume, allowing higher density without excessive external dimension increase.
2Reliability
If a laminate film with trilaminar structure is used to seal the anode composite, then protection is provided, but bonding between polypropylene and glass ceramics is difficult and welding requires large margins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex trilaminar laminate film structure (comprising polypropylene, aluminum foil, and polyethylene terephthalate) and replaces it with a simplified single-layer film structure. This extraction of unnecessary layers eliminates the bonding difficulties between dissimilar materials and reduces welding margin requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite film structure that integrates multiple protective functions into a single layer or simplified multilayer configuration. This composite approach maintains the protective benefits while eliminating the need for complex inter-layer bonding between polypropylene and glass ceramics components.
3Reliability
If openings in the laminate film are plugged with glass ceramics to secure lithium ion conductivity, then lithium ion conductivity is improved, but the area of the laminate film must be expanded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the lithium ion conductivity function directly into the film structure itself rather than requiring separate glass ceramic plugs. The film is designed with inherent lithium ion conducting properties or contains distributed conductive pathways, merging the protective and conductive functions into a single integrated component that does not require area expansion.
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 configuration allows for increased energy and input/output density without excessive size expansion, improving durability and reducing component complexity, resulting in a more compact and efficient lithium-air battery.
Implementation Method 1
two plate-shaped isolating layers made from glass ceramics having lithium ion conductivity
Implementation Method 2
Metallic lithium which is an anode active material reacts with oxygen and water
Implementation Method 3
Metallic lithium which is an anode active material reacts with oxygen and water
Implementation Method 4
an electrolyte is stored within the case in contact with at least the air electrodes to undertake lithium ion conduction
Data Source
AI summary
A lithium-air battery having a lithium anode composite and an air electrode. The lithium anode composite includes a plate-shaped or strip-shaped anode current collector; two plate-shaped anode layers made from metallic lithium, an alloy primarily composed of lithium, or a compound primarily composed of lithium and arranged to sandwich a part of the anode current collector; two plate-shaped isolating layers made from glass ceramics having lithium ion conductivity and arranged to sandwich another part of the anode current collector and the whole of the two anode layers; and a junction provided to join and close outer peripheral portions of the two isolating layers with rest of the anode current collector being exposed outward between the two isolating layers. The air electrode includes an air electrode layer having an electroconductive material and a plate-shaped or strip-shaped air electrode current collector electrically connected to the air electrode layer.