Lithium Battery Electrode Coating for Thermal Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium rechargeable batteries face instability and safety issues due to decomposition of electrolyte salts and active materials at elevated temperatures, leading to deterioration in stability and safety, making it difficult to achieve high-capacity batteries with stability and safety.
Innovation Solution
An electrode for lithium rechargeable batteries is developed, comprising a current collector with an active material layer and a coating layer containing a lithium ion conductive polymer and an inorganic material, such as Mg2P2O7 or AlPO4, which enhances safety, thermal stability, and cycle-life by improving the battery's resistance to temperature fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional electrodes are used in lithium rechargeable batteries, then the battery can operate at high capacity, but the battery exhibits poor stability and safety due to decomposition at elevated temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining organic binder polymers with inorganic materials (such as metal oxides, metal phosphates, or ceramic materials) to form a coating layer on the electrode. This composite structure allows the electrode to maintain high capacity while the inorganic components provide thermal stability and prevent decomposition at elevated temperatures, thereby resolving the contradiction between capacity and reliability.
2Power
If the battery operates at elevated temperatures, then the battery can deliver high power, but the electrolyte salt and active materials decompose causing deterioration of stability and safety
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the electrode by introducing a coating layer with specific thermal properties. The inorganic materials in the coating layer have high thermal stability and resist decomposition at elevated temperatures, allowing the battery to operate at higher temperatures for increased power output without suffering from material decomposition. This parameter change in thermal resistance resolves the contradiction between power output and resistance to harmful thermal effects.
3Reliability
If a coating layer is added to improve thermal stability, then the battery safety improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs thin film coating layers on the electrode surface to provide thermal stability and safety improvements. These thin films are applied as coating layers rather than thick structural additions, minimizing the increase in device complexity while effectively preventing material decomposition. The coating layer can be applied through conventional coating techniques, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving the safety benefits.
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 electrode design significantly improves the safety, thermal stability, and cycle-life of lithium rechargeable batteries by preventing decomposition and maintaining performance even at high temperatures, as demonstrated by the battery cells' performance in penetration tests and cycle-life measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a coating layer disposed on the active material layer. The coating layer can include a lithium ion conductive polymer and an inorganic material... significantly improves the safety, thermal stability, and cycle-life of lithium rechargeable batteries by preventing decomposition and maintaining performance even at high temperatures
Implementation Method 2
The coating layer can include a lithium ion conductive polymer and an inorganic material represented by Formula 1: MwHxPyOz
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode, for a rechargeable lithium battery, including a current collector; an active material layer disposed on the current collector; and a coating layer disposed on the active material layer. The coating layer includes a lithium ion conductive polymer and an inorganic material represented by Formula 1: MwHxPyOz, wherein M is an element selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, an alkaline-earth metal, a Group 13 element, a Group 14 element, a transition element, a rare earth element, and a combination thereof; and 1≦w≦4, 0≦x≦4, 1 ≦y≦7, and 2≦z≦30.