Lithium Anode with Anchored Carbon Nanotubes for Dendrite Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of lithium batteries with metallic lithium as the anode active material faces challenges in productivity and safety due to the difficulty in stabilizing and cost-effectively producing metallic lithium foils and the risk of dendrite formation, which can lead to safety issues like fires.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional surface structure anode is created by anchoring carbon nanotubes in a conductive material layer and depositing metallic lithium on these nanotubes, preventing dendrite growth and improving productivity through increased surface area for current dispersal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If metallic lithium foil is used as anode active material, then battery voltage and energy density are improved, but production stability and cost-effectiveness deteriorate due to difficulty in producing thin metallic lithium foil
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a conductive material layer with three-dimensional surface structure as an intermediary substrate between the current collector and metallic lithium. This mediator provides a stable platform for lithium deposition, eliminating the need to directly handle and process thin metallic lithium foil, thus improving production stability while maintaining high energy density benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive material layer with three-dimensional surface structure is prepared in advance before lithium deposition. This preliminary preparation creates optimal surface conditions (increased surface area, improved conductivity) that facilitate stable and efficient lithium deposition, avoiding the need to produce and handle thin metallic lithium foil directly
2Device complexity
If metallic lithium is deposited on flat current collector, then anode structure is simple, but dendrite formation occurs leading to safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat current collector surface to a three-dimensional conductive material layer surface. This dimensional change increases the surface area and creates a more complex surface topology that disperses current density, preventing localized lithium accumulation and dendrite formation, thus improving safety without significantly complicating the overall anode structure
Solution Approach 2:
The conductive material layer possesses a porous or three-dimensional surface structure that provides increased surface area and interconnected pathways for lithium ion transport. This porous architecture distributes current more uniformly and prevents dendrite growth by eliminating flat surfaces where dendrites can easily form, thereby improving safety
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional current density is applied for lithium deposition, then deposition quality is maintained, but treatment time increases reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
By transitioning to a three-dimensional conductive material layer surface, the patent increases the effective surface area available for lithium deposition. This allows the same total current to be distributed over a larger area, maintaining acceptable current density for quality deposition while enabling parallel deposition across multiple surfaces, thus reducing overall treatment time and improving productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple deposition sites on the three-dimensional surface into a single integrated deposition process. Rather than depositing on separate flat surfaces sequentially, the three-dimensional structure allows simultaneous deposition across multiple facets and surfaces, merging what would be multiple separate operations into one efficient process, thereby improving productivity
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 safety and productivity of lithium battery anodes by preventing dendrite formation and allowing for faster deposition of metallic lithium, thereby improving battery performance and reducing the risk of safety hazards.
Implementation Method 1
a step of passing a substrate through an electroplating bath comprising conductive metal or alloy and carbon nanotubes to form a conductive material layer comprising the carbon nanotubes by electroplating
Implementation Method 2
depositing metallic lithium on an anode current collector by applying charge in a solution containing lithium ions
Implementation Method 3
a step of forming a deposited layer by depositing metallic lithium on the carbon nanotubes by electroplating using a lithium electrode
Data Source
AI summary
In forming an anode by using metallic lithium as the anode active material, the present invention provides an anode for lithium batteries which can be produced with high productivity and in which dendrite generation is prevented, so that high safety can he secured. An anode for lithium batteries according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a structure comprising a conductive material layer in which carbon nanotubes are anchored, with a part of the carbon nanotube extending from at least one face of the surfaces of the conductive material layer, and a deposited layer formed by depositing metallic lithium on the carbon nanotubes in the structure.