Lithium-rich electrode plate with ceramic-modified coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for enhancing lithium-ion battery energy density through lithium-rich electrode plates face challenges such as high production costs, low efficiency, safety hazards, and increased contact resistance due to voids and non-uniform lithium distribution.

Innovation Solution

A method involving melting a lithium ingot and mixing it with dried ceramic particles to form a modified melting lithium, which is then uniformly coated onto an electrode plate in a protective gas environment, preventing pelletizing and enhancing safety through a dense ceramic layer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If lithium metal is intercalated by negative active material to form lithium-rich electrode plate, then energy density is improved, but voids are left increasing contact resistance between particles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium contentVSAvoidcontact resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a binder as an intermediary substance that fills the voids left by intercalated lithium metal. The binder connects the negative active material particles, maintaining good electrical contact and preventing particle isolation, thus resolving the contact resistance issue while preserving the high lithium content for energy density improvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If lithium powder is spilled on negative electrode plate surface to form lithium-rich layer, then production process is simplified, but production efficiency is low and uniformity is poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a slurry coating process where lithium powder is suspended in a liquid carrier to form a slurry. This slurry is then uniformly coated onto the electrode plate surface using controlled dispensing or spraying techniques, ensuring uniform lithium distribution and high production efficiency while maintaining process simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical state and delivery form of lithium from dry powder to liquid slurry. This parameter change enables better control over lithium deposition, improving uniformity and production efficiency while keeping the overall process simple and cost-effective.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If lithium powder is used for lithium-rich treatment, then lithium amount can be controlled, but lithium powder floats in air causing safety hazards

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium amount controlVSAvoidsafety hazard
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a liquid carrier as an intermediary medium to suspend and deliver lithium powder. This approach contains the lithium powder within the liquid matrix, preventing it from floating in air and eliminating safety hazards associated with airborne lithium dust, while still allowing precise control over the amount of lithium deposited.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs an inert atmosphere (such as nitrogen or argon) during the lithium powder handling and coating process. This creates a safe environment that prevents lithium powder from floating and reacting with air, eliminating safety hazards while maintaining precise control over lithium amount.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

4Manufacturing precision

If lithium sheet is coated on negative electrode plate to obtain lithium-rich electrode plate, then lithium distribution is uniform, but extra lithium causes safety hazards and increases battery thickness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium distribution uniformityVSAvoidsafety hazard
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the form of lithium from solid sheet to controlled slurry or powder suspension. This allows precise control over the amount of lithium deposited on the electrode plate, ensuring uniform distribution while preventing excess lithium accumulation that would cause safety hazards and increased battery thickness.

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

This approach reduces production costs, prevents voids, ensures uniform lithium distribution, and improves safety and efficiency by using mature coating technologies like extrusion coating, resulting in enhanced lithium-ion battery performance.

Implementation Method 1

adding the dried and anhydrous ceramic particles into the melting lithium, stirring to make them uniformly mixed to obtain a modified melting lithium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMixing:

Implementation Method 2

uniformly coating the modified melting lithium on a surface of an electrode plate to be lithium-rich to form a lithium-rich layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCoating: Coatings

Implementation Method 3

in a vacuum environment, heating and drying ceramic particles to obtain dried and anhydrous ceramic particles

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS9806330B2Lithium-rich electrode plate of lithium-ion battery and preparation method thereof
Publication Date: 2017.10.31 NINGDE AMPEREX TECHNOLOGY LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a lithium-rich electrode plate of a lithium-ion battery and a preparation method thereof. The preparation method of the lithium-rich electrode plate of the lithium-ion battery comprises steps of: (1) in a protective gas environment, melting a lithium ingot to obtain a melting lithium; (2) in a vacuum environment, heating and drying ceramic particles to obtain dried and anhydrous ceramic particles; (3) in a protective gas environment, adding the dried and anhydrous ceramic particles into the melting lithium, stirring to make them uniformly mixed to obtain a modified melting lithium; (4) in a protective gas environment, uniformly coating the modified melting lithium on a surface of an electrode plate to be lithium rich to form a lithium-rich layer, which is followed by cooling to room temperature to obtain a lithium-rich electrode plate of a lithium-ion battery. The lithium-rich electrode plate is prepared according to the preparation method.