Lithium Battery Anode with Carbon Nanotube Composite
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lithium battery anodes suffer from additional resistance, limiting electron transfer and resulting in poor energy storage performance due to their fragile nanoporous metal structures, which have low conductivity and poor mechanical strength.
Innovation Solution
A three-dimensional porous composite anode structure is developed, incorporating a current collector with an anode material layer that includes embedded carbon nanotubes within a porous metal ligament network, enhancing electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and stability through controlled epitaxial growth and etching processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a nanoporous metal structure is used to improve electron migration and electrode surface density, then energy storage performance is improved, but mechanical strength and conductivity deteriorate due to fragility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining metal ligaments with carbon nanotubes to form a nanoporous composite structure. The carbon nanotubes are grown epitaxially on the metal ligaments, creating a hybrid structure that leverages the electrical conductivity of metals and the mechanical strength of carbon nanotubes, thereby resolving the contradiction between improved energy storage performance and deteriorated mechanical strength
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by creating a heterogeneous structure where carbon nanotubes are selectively grown on specific metal ligaments within the nanoporous network. This localized reinforcement strategy enhances mechanical strength and conductivity at critical interfaces while maintaining the overall nanoporous architecture needed for high surface density and electron migration
2Productivity
If a nanoporous metal structure is used to increase electrode surface density, then energy storage performance is improved, but conductivity deteriorates due to low electron transfer capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by integrating carbon nanotubes with metal ligaments to create a dual-conductivity network. The carbon nanotubes provide excellent electrical conductivity pathways that complement the metal ligaments, ensuring high electron transfer capability while maintaining the nanoporous structure's high surface density for improved energy storage performance
3Productivity
If a nanoporous metal structure is used to enhance electron migration, then energy storage performance is improved, but mechanical robustness deteriorates due to structural fragility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by forming a symbiotic structure where carbon nanotubes are epitaxially grown on metal ligaments. The carbon nanotubes act as structural reinforcement that prevents metal ligament collapse during electrochemical cycling, thereby enhancing mechanical robustness while preserving the nanoporous architecture necessary for efficient electron migration and high energy storage performance
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 solution significantly improves the energy storage performance of lithium batteries by increasing electron migration, electrode surface density, and mechanical robustness, while reducing contact resistance and enhancing specific surface area.
Implementation Method 1
embedded carbon nanotubes within a porous metal ligament network, enhancing electrical conductivity, mechanical strength, and stability through controlled epitaxial growth and etching processes
Implementation Method 2
The anode material layer includes anode active material, and further includes a conductive agent and a binder The anode material layer has a nanoporous composite structure
Data Source
AI summary
An anode of lithium battery comprises a current collector and an anode material layer. The anode material layer is located in at least one surface of the current collector. The current collector is a three-dimensional porous composite structure. The three-dimensional porous composite structure comprises a porous structure and at least one carbon nanotube structure. The porous structure has a plurality of metal ligaments and a plurality of pores. The at least one carbon nanotube structure is embedded in the porous structure and comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes joined end to end by van der Waals attractive force, wherein the plurality of carbon nanotubes are arranged along a same direction.