Lithium Secondary Battery Electrolyte Balance for Silicon Anodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium secondary batteries face challenges in achieving high energy density and long service life due to material selection and combination issues, particularly with silicon-based negative electrodes, which can lead to efficiency deterioration and reduced service life.

Innovation Solution

A lithium secondary battery design incorporating a positive electrode with a lithium composite transition metal compound containing nickel and cobalt, a mixed negative electrode active material of silicon-based and carbon-based materials, and an electrolyte with fluoroethylene carbonate, where the efficiency constants and electrolyte content satisfy a specific equation to balance performance and extend service life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If silicon-based active material is used in the negative electrode to increase capacity, then energy density is improved, but service life deteriorates due to efficiency deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy densityVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the content of fluoroethylene carbonate in the electrolyte and adjusting the efficiency constants of electrode materials to satisfy a specific mathematical relationship. This optimization of chemical composition parameters enables the battery to achieve high energy density while maintaining long service life by balancing the electrochemical efficiency between positive and negative electrodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite materials by combining silicon-based active material with carbon-based active material in the negative electrode, and lithium composite transition metal compound containing multiple metals in the positive electrode. This composite approach allows the battery to achieve high energy density while the carbon component and optimized electrolyte composition mitigate the service life deterioration caused by silicon expansion and side reactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If electrode active material composition is changed to improve battery performance, then some performance is improved, but other performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery performanceVSAvoidperformance balance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves performance imbalance by changing parameters including the efficiency constants (a and b) of electrode materials and the fluoroethylene carbonate content (c) in the electrolyte, which must satisfy the relationship [(b/a)×100−c]≤95. This mathematical constraint ensures that improvements in one performance metric do not cause deterioration in other metrics by maintaining proper electrochemical balance between electrodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control through the efficiency constant relationship, where the performance of positive and negative electrodes is continuously balanced. By requiring that [(b/a)×100−c]≤95, the system automatically adjusts the relative efficiency of both electrodes, preventing one electrode from being over-optimized at the expense of the other, thus maintaining overall battery performance balance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 configuration enhances energy density, improves charging and discharging efficiency, and extends the battery's service life by protecting silicon-based compounds and optimizing the electrolyte's role in reducing side reactions.

Implementation Method 1

fluoroethylene carbonate helps form a film that protects a silicon-based compound

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFilm formation: Deposition (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the electrolyte includes fluoroethylene carbonate

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon transport: Ion Exchange

Data Source

PatentUS20250105338A1Lithium Secondary Battery
Publication Date: 2025.03.27 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

A lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a separator, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte, in which the positive electrode includes a lithium composite transition metal compound including nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co), the negative electrode includes a mixed negative electrode active material of a silicon-based active material and a carbon-based active material, the electrolyte includes fluoroethylene carbonate, and the efficiency constants of the mixed negative electrode active material and the lithium composite transition metal compound and the part by weight of the fluoroethylene carbonate satisfy a specific Equation.