Electric Storage Device Lithium Ion Source Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The manufacturing of electric storage devices with metal lithium foils as ion sources is challenging due to the difficulty in cutting soft thin foils and the increased cost associated with welding operations, which require a dry environment to prevent foil damage and reaction with water content.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a first conductor connected to the electrode current collector and a second conductor detachably holding the ion source, allowing for separate handling and easier integration of the ion source, with both conductors made of the same material as the collectors, and featuring through-holes for ion movement, reducing the complexity and cost of the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metal lithium foil is adhered onto lithium-electrode current collector and then welded onto negative-electrode current collector, then ion source can be incorporated into electric storage device, but the thin soft metal lithium foil might be damaged and welding operation is troublesome requiring dry room or argon box
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the current collector into two separate parts: a first current collector for the electrode and a second current collector for holding the ion source. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured and handled independently, eliminating the need to handle and weld the fragile metal lithium foil to the electrode current collector, thus preventing foil damage while simplifying manufacturing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the ion source (metal lithium foil) from its traditional position on the electrode current collector and places it on a separate second current collector. This extraction removes the problematic welding operation involving the fragile foil from the manufacturing process, while still allowing the ion source to function properly through ionic conduction in the electrolyte.
2Manufacturing precision
If metal lithium foil is cut into predetermined shape and adhered onto lithium-electrode current collector, then ion source can be incorporated, but it is very difficult to cut only a soft thin metal lithium foil
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the current collector system into two separate collectors, allowing the second current collector (holding the ion source) to be manufactured separately with precise shaping before assembly. This eliminates the difficulty of cutting soft thin metal lithium foil during the electrode manufacturing process, as the ion source can be precisely formed on its own substrate first.
3Reliability
If welding operation is performed in dry room or argon box to prevent metal lithium foil reaction with water content, then foil damage is prevented, but the welding operation is troublesome and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the ion source from the electrode current collector and places it on a separate second current collector. This eliminates the need for welding operations involving the metal lithium foil, as the second current collector can be attached to the first current collector using simpler, non-welding methods that do not require dry rooms or argon boxes, thus simplifying manufacturing while maintaining foil protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces the second current collector as an intermediary component between the electrode and the ion source. This intermediary allows the ion source to be connected to the electrode through ionic conduction in the electrolyte rather than through welding, eliminating the need for controlled environment welding operations while still ensuring proper electrical and ionic connectivity.
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 simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces costs, and allows for efficient doping of ions into the electrodes, enhancing energy density and capacity while preventing damage to the ion source, thus stabilizing the quality and reducing production costs.
Implementation Method 1
ions can be doped into the negative electrode from the metal lithium foil... so as to dope ions from the ion source into the positive-electrode mixture layer or the negative-electrode mixture layer
Data Source
AI summary
An electric storage device 10 has an electrode laminate unit 12 including positive electrodes 14, negative electrodes 15 and a lithium electrode 16 provided at the outermost part of the electrode laminate unit 12. The lithium electrode 16 has a lithium-electrode current collector 26 welded to a negative-electrode current collector 22 and a lithium unit 27 sandwiched between the lithium-electrode current collector 26 and the negative electrode 15. The lithium unit 27 is composed of a lithium holding plate 27a that is in contact with the lithium-electrode current collector 26, and a lithium ion source 27b that is provided to the lithium holding plate 27a. The lithium ion source 27b is not mounted on the lithium-electrode current collector 26, but only the lithium-electrode current collector 26 is laminated and welded, whereby the damage of the lithium ion source 27b is prevented, and the manufacturing operation is simplified.