Lithium Metal Anode Tab Geometry for Stable Lead Welding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The issue of anode tabs extending beyond the bounds of the lead during welding in lithium metal batteries, leading to sealing problems and performance deterioration, is addressed.

Innovation Solution

The anode tab is designed with a narrower end width compared to the connecting width, and a gradual decrease in width away from the body part, ensuring it does not exceed the lead's boundaries during welding, and a stacked structure is used to maintain alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a lithium metal anode tab is used with conventional uniform width design, then the anode tab can be easily manufactured, but the anode tab extends beyond the lead bounds during welding causing sealing problems and performance deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding reliabilityVSAvoidanode tab width control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The anode tab is designed with non-uniform width where the end part has a narrower width (W1) than the connecting part width (W2). This local variation in dimensional quality prevents the anode tab from extending beyond the lead bounds during welding, thereby improving welding reliability while maintaining manufacturability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The width parameter of the anode tab is changed along its length, creating a gradient from wider connecting part to narrower end part. This parameter change ensures that during welding, the anode tab remains within the lead boundaries, preventing sealing issues and performance deterioration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the anode tab width is reduced at the end part, then the anode tab alignment with lead is improved, but the connecting part width must be maintained for adequate electrical connection

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanode tab alignment precisionVSAvoidelectrical connection strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Different sections of the anode tab are assigned different width characteristics: the connecting part maintains sufficient width (W2) for strong electrical connection, while the end part has reduced width (W1) for precise alignment with the lead, optimizing both functions locally

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The anode tab is segmented into functionally distinct regions: a connecting part for electrical connection and an end part for alignment. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized independently for its specific function

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4715999A1Anode for lithium metal battery, electrode assembly for lithium metal battery, and lithium metal battery
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD
  • EP4715999A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4715999A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4715999A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present application may provide an anode for a lithium metal battery and an electrode assembly for a lithium metal battery, in which, in a battery system using lithium metal as the anode, the anode includes a main body portion and an anode tab extending from one side edge of the main body portion, connected to a metal lead, and including lithium metal, wherein the anode tab is configured such that the width (W1) of the end portion thereof and the width (W2) of a connection portion connecting the end portion and the main body portion are different, thereby preventing the problem of the tab deviating from the range of the lead and spreading when the anode tab and the lead are welded, thus enabling problems occurring during sealing and adverse effects on battery performance to be minimized.