Lithium Battery Electrode Protective Layer for Uniform Heat Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium metal electrodes in secondary batteries face issues with non-uniform lithium dendrite growth, leading to instability and reduced battery performance due to increased surface area and side reactions with the electrolyte, as well as peeling of the protective layer during charging and discharging.
Innovation Solution
A lithium secondary battery electrode with a protective layer containing a thermally conductive material, such as boron nitride, with a thermal conductivity of 25 to 500 W/m·K, which ensures uniform heat distribution and growth of lithium dendrites, reducing volume changes and preventing peeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective layer is formed on the lithium electrode surface, then interfacial characteristics between lithium metal electrode and polymer electrolyte are improved, but the protective layer peels off during battery operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal conductivity parameter of the protective layer by incorporating thermally conductive materials (such as aluminum oxide, boron nitride, or silver particles) with specific thermal conductivity values (10-500 W/m·K) to enable uniform heat distribution, which prevents thermal stress-induced peeling while maintaining good interfacial characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The protective layer is designed as a composite material containing both polymer matrix and thermally conductive filler particles. This composite structure combines the protective function of the polymer with the heat dissipation capability of the thermally conductive particles, preventing peeling by uniform heat distribution while maintaining interfacial stability
2Quantity of substance
If lithium metal is used as electrode active material, then energy density is maximized, but non-uniform lithium dendrite growth occurs leading to electrode instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the thermal conductivity parameter of the protective layer to enable uniform heat distribution across the electrode surface during charging and discharging. This uniform thermal field prevents localized hot spots that cause non-uniform lithium dendrite growth, thereby maintaining electrode stability while using high-energy-density lithium metal
Solution Approach 2:
The thermally conductive protective layer acts as an intermediary between the lithium metal electrode and the external environment. It mediates heat distribution to prevent localized thermal accumulation, which in turn prevents non-uniform lithium deposition and dendrite formation, ensuring stable operation of the high-energy-density lithium metal electrode
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 enhances the stability and lifetime characteristics of the lithium metal electrode by maintaining uniform heat distribution, reducing side reactions, and preventing peeling of the protective layer, thereby improving the battery's safety and cycle characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
the protective layer includes a thermally conductive material having thermal conductivity of 25 to 500 W/m·K
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode for a lithium secondary battery including a protective layer, and a lithium secondary battery including the same. The protective layer contains a thermally conductive material. The electrode for the lithium secondary battery maintains uniform heat distribution on a surface of the electrode during charging and discharging, so that lithium dendrites grow uniformly on the surface. Accordingly, the electrode does not cause a problem of an increase in contact area between the electrode and an electrolyte by the non-uniform growth of the lithium dendrites, or a problem of peeling of the protective layer, thereby improving stability and lifetime characteristics when applied to the battery.