Lithium Battery Electrode Nanoparticle Solid Electrolyte Contact

Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium batteries face safety concerns due to highly active lithium and organic electrolytes, and existing ceramic electrolyte-based batteries struggle with insufficient contact between electrode materials, leading to limited power output and cycle life.

Innovation Solution

A lithium battery electrode body with a collector electrode and an electrode mixture layer composed of electrode active material particles and solid electrolyte particles, where the solid electrolyte particles have a smaller average particle size than the active material particles, increasing contact points and interface area, and a non-aqueous electrolyte system is implemented to enhance safety and power output.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ceramic electrolyte powder is molded with electrode active material powder, then safety is improved by using non-aqueous electrolyte, but power output is insufficient due to poor contact between particles

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidpower output

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the particle size parameter of the ceramic electrolyte to the nanometer scale (1-100 nm), which fundamentally alters the contact characteristics between electrolyte and electrode particles. This parameter change enables sufficient contact area for high power output while maintaining the safety benefits of ceramic electrolyte

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different particle sizes strategically: nanometer-scale ceramic electrolyte particles are used specifically at the interfaces with electrode active material to ensure optimal contact, while larger micrometer-scale particles may be used in the bulk electrolyte layer. This local differentiation optimizes both power output and safety

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If ceramic electrolyte powder is molded with electrode active material powder, then safety is improved, but cycle life is deteriorated due to unstable interfacial contacts from volume changes

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidcycle life

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the particle size parameter of the ceramic electrolyte to the nanometer scale (1-100 nm), which fundamentally alters the contact characteristics between electrolyte and electrode particles. This parameter change enables sufficient contact area for high power output while maintaining the safety benefits of ceramic electrolyte

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The nanometer-scale ceramic electrolyte particles act as a cushioning layer that can accommodate volume changes of electrode materials during charge-discharge cycles. The small particle size allows them to deform and maintain stable contact interfaces, preventing deterioration from mechanical stress

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Power

If thin film deposition method is used to laminate positive electrode/ceramic electrolyte/negative electrode, then good contact is achieved and power output is improved, but charge capacity is insufficient due to limited active material thickness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower outputVSAvoidcharge capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the particle size parameter of the ceramic electrolyte to the nanometer scale (1-100 nm), which fundamentally alters the contact characteristics between electrolyte and electrode particles. This parameter change enables sufficient contact area for high power output while maintaining the safety benefits of ceramic electrolyte

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a thin-film lamination approach (two-dimensional layering) to a particle-based mixture approach (three-dimensional distribution). By mixing nanometer-scale electrolyte particles with micrometer-scale electrode particles, the system achieves both good contact and sufficient active material volume for high capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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 increased contact area and use of non-aqueous electrolytes result in higher power output, larger capacity, and improved safety by preventing short-circuits and reducing material degradation, while also eliminating the need for separators, thus reducing costs.

Implementation Method 1

By using the ceramic electrolyte, only lithium ions are ions that move in the electrolyte by the battery reaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS9005817B2Electrode for lithium battery comprising solid electrolyte nanoparticles and lithium battery

Publication Date: 2015.04.14 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A lithium battery electrode body includes: a collector electrode; and an electrode mixture layer in which a plurality of first particles including electrode active material and a plurality of second particles including solid electrolyte are mixed, wherein the electrode mixture layer is provided on one of sides of the collector electrode, and an average particle size of the plurality of second particles is smaller than an average particle size of the plurality of first particles.