Lithium Peroxide Cathode for Formation Loss Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium ion batteries face high formation losses during the first charging process, leading to inefficiencies and increased production costs due to the need for oversized active cathode materials and decomposition issues with nitrogen-based salts.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating lithium peroxide (Li2O2) into the cathode prior to the first charging process, which decomposes to compensate for formation losses and reduce material costs, while also improving the cathode's specific energy and energy density.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cathode is oversized to compensate for formation losses, then the battery capacity is sufficient after formation, but the weight and cost of the cathode increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery capacity after formationVSAvoidcathode weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Lithium peroxide is added to the cathode before the first charging process to preemptively compensate for the lithium that will be consumed during formation. This preliminary action ensures that sufficient lithium is available after formation without needing to oversize the cathode, thereby reducing cathode weight while maintaining required battery capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Lithium peroxide acts as an intermediary substance that provides lithium during the formation process. It decomposes to release lithium, which then compensates for formation losses. This intermediary mechanism allows the cathode to be smaller while still ensuring adequate lithium availability after formation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the cathode is oversized to compensate for formation losses, then the battery capacity is sufficient after formation, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery capacity after formationVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Lithium peroxide is incorporated into the cathode before formation to preemptively address lithium consumption during formation. This allows optimization of the cathode size, reducing the amount of expensive active cathode material needed while ensuring sufficient capacity after formation, thereby lowering manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Lithium peroxide serves as a consumable, lower-cost material that decomposes during formation to provide lithium. By using this cheaper, sacrificial substance instead of oversizing the expensive active cathode material, the overall manufacturing cost is reduced while maintaining the required battery performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If nitrogen-based salts are used in the cathode, then formation losses can be compensated, but decomposition reactions occur during formation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompensation for formation lossesVSAvoiddecomposition reactions

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Lithium peroxide is used as a stable, sacrificial material that reliably decomposes to provide lithium during formation without the harmful decomposition reactions associated with nitrogen-based salts. It serves as a cleaner alternative that compensates for formation losses while avoiding additional decomposition issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the chemical composition parameter of the cathode by replacing nitrogen-based salts with lithium peroxide. This parameter change maintains the functionality of compensating for formation losses while eliminating the harmful decomposition reactions that occur with nitrogen-based salts during the formation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 use of lithium peroxide reduces the weight and cost of the cathode, enhances the specific capacity, and minimizes formation losses, resulting in a more efficient and cost-effective lithium ion battery with improved cycling stability and energy density.

Implementation Method 1

lithium peroxide, which decomposes to compensate for formation losses

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDecomposition: Decomposition (biological)

Data Source

PatentUS10727472B2Cathode, cathode-containing lithium ion battery in the state prior to the first charging process, method for forming a lithium ion battery, and lithium ion battery after formation

Publication Date: 2020.07.28 BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE AG

AI summary

A cathode in a state prior to a first charging process is provided having an active cathode material and lithium peroxide. A lithium ion battery or an electrochemical cell includes the same cathode. A method is also provided for forming a lithium ion battery, and a lithium ion battery is provided which includes a cathode having an active cathode material, a separator, an anode having an active anode material, and an electrolyte, wherein after a formed cell is fully discharged, the active cathode material holds the same lithium content as before the formation process.