Lithium Metal Anode Lamination Without Protective Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of lithium metal anodes for lithium batteries is challenging due to lithium's reactivity with various substances, leading to safety issues and reduced energy density, and existing solutions often require protective layers that negatively impact current transport and energy density.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the deposition of lithium on flexible supports to form pristine lithium surfaces, which are then combined to create a pure lithium metal anode layer without additional protective layers, using a vacuum deposition system to ensure safety and maintain high energy density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protection layer is applied on the lithium metal layer to prevent reactions with surrounding molecules, then the reactivity and safety issues are improved, but the current transport and energy density are negatively affected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the protection layer from the lithium metal anode structure. By depositing lithium directly on the current collector and separator without any protection layer, the patent eliminates the trade-off between safety and energy density, achieving both high safety and high energy density simultaneously.
2Reliability
If a protection layer is applied on the lithium metal layer to prevent reactions with surrounding molecules, then the reactivity and safety issues are improved, but the current transport is negatively affected
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the protection layer from the lithium metal anode structure. By depositing lithium directly on the current collector and separator without any protection layer, the patent eliminates the trade-off between safety and current transport, achieving both high safety and excellent current transport simultaneously.
3Reliability
If lithium is handled under inert gas atmosphere to prevent reactions, then the reactivity issues are improved, but the device complexity and processing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies the inert atmosphere principle at the deposition stage by performing lithium deposition under vacuum conditions. This creates an inert environment only when needed (during deposition), avoiding the need for continuous inert gas handling and complex processing equipment throughout the entire manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes the protection layer, simplifying the structure to just three components: current collector, lithium metal layer, and separator. This eliminates the need for complex protection layer application and handling procedures.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a protection layer is applied to prevent lithium reactions, then the stability is improved, but the energy density and adhesion are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the protection layer from the lithium metal anode structure. The direct deposition of lithium on the current collector and separator achieves both high stability (through controlled vacuum deposition) and high energy density (by eliminating the protection layer).
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the deposition parameters by performing lithium deposition under vacuum conditions, which provides stability without requiring a protection layer. This parameter change (vacuum deposition) ensures stable, reaction-free lithium formation while maintaining maximum energy density.
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 enables the production of lithium batteries with improved energy density and reduced lithium reactivity, enhancing adhesion and contact with support layers while minimizing the risk of contamination and reaction, thus addressing the challenges of lithium's reactivity and protective layer limitations.
Implementation Method 1
a first deposition of lithium on a first flexible support to provide a lithium anode-first sublayer with a first lithium surface; a second deposition of lithium on a second flexible support to provide a lithium anode-second sublayer with a second lithium surface
Implementation Method 2
the vacuum deposition systems described herein may roll-to-roll vacuum deposition systems configured for evaporating lithium on flexible support layers
Data Source
AI summary
A method of manufacturing an anode structure (10) for a lithium battery is described. The method includes a first deposition of lithium on a first flexible support (21) to provide a lithium anode-first sublayer (12-1) with a first lithium surface (31); a second deposition of lithium on a second flexible support (22) to provide a lithium anode-second sublayer (12-2) with a second lithium surface (32); and combining the lithium anode-first sublayer (12-1) and the lithium anode-second sublayer (12-2) by pressing the first lithium surface and the second lithium surface together to form a lithium metal anode layer (12). Further described are a lithium battery layer stack with an anode structure manufactured according to the described method, and a vacuum deposition system for manufacturing an anode structure as described herein.