Lithium Battery Electrode with Clustered Active Material Domains
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium batteries with high loading electrodes experience non-uniform distribution of constituents, leading to increased surface density and deteriorated performance, necessitating an electrode design that improves electrolyte impregnation and maintains energy density.
Innovation Solution
The electrode comprises an active material layer with a first domain of 15% to 60% coverage by first clusters, which are agglomerates of first electrode active materials, enhancing electrolyte infiltration and contact area, along with a second domain for improved energy density and cyclic characteristics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If high loading is used in the electrode to increase energy density, then the energy density is improved, but the distribution of constituents becomes non-uniform and surface density increases, leading to deteriorated lithium battery performance
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode is designed with heterogeneous local structures: a first region with higher active material density for energy density, and a second region with lower active material density and higher porosity (30-70%) for improved electrolyte penetration and uniform ion distribution. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing high overall loading while maintaining performance through optimized local regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode active material layer is segmented into multiple regions with different compositions and structures. The first region contains high-density active material for energy storage, while the second region provides porous pathways for electrolyte flow. This segmentation allows the electrode to simultaneously achieve high energy density and maintained performance.
2Quantity of substance
If high loading is used in the electrode, then the energy density is improved, but the electrolyte impregnation property deteriorates due to non-uniform distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode incorporates a porous second region with 30-70% porosity that facilitates electrolyte penetration and distribution throughout the electrode structure. This porous pathway network resolves the contradiction by enabling effective electrolyte impregnation even in high-loading electrodes, ensuring uniform ion transport while maintaining high energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a spatial dimension solution by creating a multi-region structure where the second region provides three-dimensional porous pathways for electrolyte flow. This dimensional approach allows electrolyte to penetrate deep into the high-loading electrode through the porous network, resolving the impregnation issue without sacrificing energy density.
3Quantity of substance
If high loading is used in the electrode, then the energy density is improved, but side reactions increase due to non-uniform constituent distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode uses local quality differentiation where the second region's porous structure (30-70% porosity) ensures uniform electrolyte distribution and prevents localized over-concentration of active materials. This uniform distribution reduces hot spots and non-uniform reaction rates, thereby minimizing side reactions while maintaining high overall 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 configuration improves the electrolyte impregnation property and reversibility of the electrode, maintaining high energy density and cyclic performance even under high-rate conditions while preventing side reactions.
Implementation Method 1
the electrode active material layer includes first clusters, each of which is an agglomerate including a plurality of first electrode active materials... This configuration improves the electrolyte impregnation property
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3A~3B
Figure 4
AI summary
Provided are an electrode, a lithium battery including the same, and a method of manufacturing the electrode. The electrode includes an electrode current collector, and an electrode active material layer disposed on one or both surfaces of the electrode current collector, wherein the electrode active material layer includes a first electrode active material, a second electrode active material, and a binder. The electrode active material layer includes first clusters, and each of the first cluster is an agglomerate including a plurality of first electrode active materials. One surface of the electrode active material layer includes a first domain including the first clusters, and an area of the first domain is 15% to 60% of the total area of the one surface of the electrode active material layer.