Lithium Metal Electrode Coating for Dendrite Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium dendrite formation and life decrease due to electron conductive materials in negative electrode layers, initial coulomb efficiency deterioration by amorphous carbon, and high noble metal nanoparticle usage in lithium secondary batteries.

Innovation Solution

A lithium metal electrode with a protective layer comprising amorphous carbon and lithium-ion conduction promoting ceramic particles is developed, which controls lithium dendrite formation and improves charge/discharge characteristics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If amorphous carbon is used as the main material of the negative electrode-free coating layer, then lithium precipitation is promoted during charge/discharge, but initial coulomb efficiency is low due to irreversible reaction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelithium precipitation efficiencyVSAvoidinitial coulomb efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite coating layer comprising amorphous carbon and lithium-ion conduction promoting ceramic particles. The amorphous carbon promotes lithium precipitation during charge/discharge cycles, while the lithium-ion conduction promoting ceramic particles reduce irreversible reactions and improve initial coulomb efficiency. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Productivity

If electron conductive materials such as lithium-based alloy or lithium-containing compound are produced in the negative electrode layer, then lithium precipitation is enhanced, but current concentration and lithium dendrites are caused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelithium precipitation rateVSAvoidlithium dendrite formation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lithium-ion conduction promoting ceramic particles act as an intermediary material in the coating layer. These ceramic particles facilitate lithium-ion transport while preventing the formation of electron conductive materials that would cause current concentration and dendrite growth. The intermediary ceramic particles mediate between the need for lithium precipitation and the need to prevent dendrite formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a protective coating layer is formed on lithium metal to prevent reaction with all-solid-state battery, then reaction prevention is achieved, but sufficient life characteristics for use in electric vehicles have yet to be obtained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereaction preventionVSAvoidbattery life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a composite protective coating layer with amorphous carbon and lithium-ion conduction promoting ceramic particles. This composite structure provides both reaction prevention and improved battery life characteristics, overcoming the limitation of conventional single-material protective coatings.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If noble metal nanoparticles such as silver (Ag) are used to produce alloy with lithium during charging/discharging, then lithium dendrite prevention is improved, but prices competitiveness is greatly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedendrite preventionVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive noble metal nanoparticles with lithium-ion conduction promoting ceramic particles that are significantly cheaper while maintaining dendrite prevention functionality. The ceramic particles provide the necessary protective function without the high cost associated with noble metals, improving price competitiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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 solution effectively controls lithium dendrite formation, alleviates battery life decrease, and enhances initial coulomb efficiency and charge/discharge characteristics of lithium secondary batteries.

Implementation Method 1

a protective layer which is disposed on the metal layer and includes amorphous carbon and lithium-ion conduction promoting ceramic particles

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLithium-ion conduction: Fast Ion Conductor

Implementation Method 2

precipitate lithium in the charge/discharge process

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLithium precipitation: Precipitation

Data Source

PatentUS20250023056A1Lithium metal electrode, method of preparing same, and lithium secondary battery including same

Publication Date: 2025.01.16 RES INST OF IND SCI & TECH

AI summary

The present exemplary embodiments relate to a lithium metal electrode, a method of manufacturing the same, and a lithium secondary battery including the same. According to an exemplary embodiment, a lithium metal electrode including: a current collector and a metal layer which is disposed on at least one surface of the current collector and includes a lithium component, in which a protective layer including amorphous carbon and lithium-ion conduction promoting ceramic particles is formed on a surface of the metal layer, may be provided.