Lithium Anode Segmentation for Safety and Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary batteries face safety concerns due to their high energy density, which can lead to explosions or fires, and there is a need for high-capacity anode materials to support the increasing demands of compact and lightweight electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
The development of an anode structure that includes a lithium metal layer and a porous current collector with silicon or silicon oxide, carbon, and a binder resin, or a lithium-silicon composite, which are electrically connected to enhance chemical stability and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If high energy density is used in lithium secondary batteries, then power and energy capacity are improved, but safety deteriorates due to explosion and fire risks
Solution Approach 1:
The anode is divided into two separate anodes (first anode and second anode) that are electrically connected, allowing the lithium metal layer to be segmented and distributed across multiple substrates. This segmentation reduces the risk of localized thermal runaway while maintaining high energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
A porous current collector is introduced as an intermediary structure between the lithium metal layer and the electrolyte. This porous current collector acts as a mediator that allows controlled lithium ion transport while providing structural stability and safety, separating the high-energy lithium metal from direct contact with the electrolyte.
2Quantity of substance
If high-capacity anode materials are used to increase battery capacity, then energy storage capability is improved, but safety and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the anode structure are assigned different functions: the lithium metal layer provides high capacity, the porous current collector provides safety and structural stability, and the binder resin provides adhesive quality. This local differentiation allows high capacity materials to be used while maintaining overall safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The anode uses a composite structure combining lithium metal layer, porous current collector, carbon, and binder resin. This composite material approach allows the high-capacity lithium metal to be combined with safety-providing materials, achieving both high capacity and safety.
3Productivity
If lithium metal layer is used in the anode, then charge and discharge efficiency is improved, but chemical stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The porous current collector serves as an intermediary between the lithium metal layer and the electrolyte, enabling efficient lithium ion transport (maintaining high productivity) while providing a stable structural framework that protects the chemically reactive lithium metal (improving chemical stability).
Solution Approach 2:
A porous current collector is used instead of a dense one, allowing efficient lithium ion diffusion through the porous structure. This maintains high charge and discharge efficiency while the porous structure provides larger surface area for stable lithium deposition and better chemical stability.
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 proposed anode structure improves the initial charge and discharge efficiency, cycle characteristics, and overall safety of lithium secondary batteries, maintaining a high capacity retention rate over multiple charging and discharging cycles.
Implementation Method 1
a porous current collector, and silicon or silicon oxide, carbon and a binder resin, which are provided in pores of the porous current collector
Implementation Method 2
silicon or silicon oxide, carbon and a binder resin, which are provided in pores of the porous current collector... a lithium-silicon composite or lithium-silicon oxide composite
Data Source
AI summary
The present specification relates to an anode, a lithium secondary battery including the same, a battery module including the lithium secondary battery, and a method for manufacturing an anode.