Lithium Electrode Protective Layer Transfer
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lithium electrodes with lithium metal as a raw material face challenges in achieving a uniform thin film shape and are prone to physical degradation due to the reactivity of lithium metal, leading to issues with energy density and oxide layer formation during manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
A lithium electrode with a protective layer and a lithium metal layer deposited on the protective layer, which is then transferred to a current collector, minimizing oxide layer formation and enhancing energy density by maintaining uniform thickness and protecting lithium from moisture and air.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If lithium metal is directly deposited on the current collector to manufacture lithium electrodes, then the manufacturing process is simple and efficient, but the lithium metal layer cannot be manufactured with uniform thin film shape and is prone to physical degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a protective layer as an intermediary between the current collector and the lithium metal layer. This protective layer serves as a mediator that enables uniform lithium deposition while protecting the lithium from physical degradation. The protective layer is applied first, then lithium is deposited on top of it, creating a controlled interface that resolves the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and film uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a protective layer to the current collector before depositing the lithium metal layer. This preliminary action creates a prepared surface that guides uniform lithium deposition and prevents direct contact between lithium and the current collector, thereby avoiding physical degradation while maintaining manufacturing efficiency.
2Volume of stationary object
If the Cu foil thickness is reduced to increase volume energy density, then the energy per unit volume increases, but the Cu foil becomes difficult to handle and is prone to fracture and folding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a protective layer as a thin film structure that provides mechanical support to the thin Cu foil. This protective shell reinforces the fragile thin current collector, preventing fracture and folding while allowing the use of thinner foil to achieve high volume energy density.
3Productivity
If lithium is deposited on both sides of the Cu foil in sequence to manufacture pouch-type cells, then both sides can be coated, but the deposition conditions cannot be equalized and morphologies differ between sides
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the deposition process by applying the protective layer first, then depositing lithium on both sides of the protected foil simultaneously or in sequence under controlled conditions. The protective layer acts as a consistent base for both sides, ensuring uniform morphology while maintaining double-sided coating productivity.
4Weight of moving object
If lithium metal is used as a negative electrode to achieve high energy density, then the battery weight decreases and energy density increases, but lithium metal is highly reactive and difficult to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The protective layer serves as an intermediary that protects the highly reactive lithium metal from environmental exposure during handling and manufacturing. This layer maintains the electrochemical performance of lithium while significantly improving its handleability and stability during the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful reactivity of lithium metal into a benefit by using the protective layer to control and direct the lithium's reactivity. The protective layer prevents unwanted reactions during manufacturing while allowing the desired electrochemical reactions to occur during battery operation, thus managing lithium's reactivity from a liability to an asset.
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 results in a lithium electrode with improved energy density and reduced physical property deterioration, enabling the use of various current collectors and minimizing oxide layer formation, thus enhancing the performance and handling of lithium secondary batteries.
Implementation Method 1
protecting lithium from moisture and outside air during the manufacturing process
Implementation Method 2
depositing lithium directly on the Cu foil corresponding to the current collector
Data Source
AI summary
A lithium electrode and a lithium secondary battery including the same. More particularly, in the preparation of the lithium electrode, a protective layer for protecting the lithium metal is formed on the substrate, lithium metal may be deposited on the protective layer and then transferred to at least one side of the current collector to form a lithium electrode having a thin and uniform thickness, and the energy density of the lithium secondary battery using the lithium electrode thus manufactured may be improved.