Integrated Lithium Battery Separator for Dendrite Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium metal batteries face issues with dendrite formation leading to short circuits and reduced cycle life due to side reactions with the electrolyte, and carbon-based anode materials have limited capacity.
Innovation Solution
A lithium battery design with an integrated anode current collector and separator structure, using a gel polymer electrolyte at their interface, and optionally an anode active material layer, to enhance adhesion strength and prevent thermal shrinkage, thereby improving thermal stability and cycle life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If lithium metal is used as anode active material to increase capacity, then electric capacity is improved, but dendrite formation occurs leading to short circuits and reduced cycle life
Solution Approach 1:
A gel polymer electrolyte layer is introduced as an intermediary between the lithium metal anode and the electrolyte. This gel polymer electrolyte suppresses dendrite formation by providing a uniform lithium ion transport pathway, thereby preventing short circuits while maintaining the high capacity benefits of lithium metal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure combining gel polymer electrolyte with lithium metal anode. The gel polymer electrolyte comprises crosslinked polymer networks that provide mechanical strength to suppress dendrite growth while maintaining ionic conductivity, creating a composite system that resolves the contradiction between capacity and reliability.
2Reliability
If gel polymer electrolyte is introduced at the interface to suppress dendrites and improve cycle life, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gel polymer electrolyte is merged with the separator layer, combining the functions of separation and dendrite suppression into a single integrated component. This reduces the number of separate layers needed while maintaining the reliability benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The gel polymer electrolyte performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a separator, provides a uniform lithium ion transport pathway to suppress dendrites, and enhances interfacial adhesion. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity by consolidating multiple roles into one component.
3Stability of the object's composition
If anode current collector and separator are integrated to enhance adhesion strength, then thermal stability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent controls the adhesion strength parameter within a specific range (0.15 gf/cm to 1.0 gf/cm) to achieve optimal thermal stability. By defining and controlling this parameter, the integration process becomes more predictable and manufacturable, balancing thermal performance with manufacturing feasibility.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If separator and anode current collector are integrated to prevent thermal shrinkage, then thermal safety is improved, but interfacial adhesion control becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The gel polymer electrolyte serves as an intermediary layer that provides controlled adhesion between the separator and anode current collector. This intermediary layer prevents thermal shrinkage while maintaining manageable interfacial adhesion properties through its gel structure and crosslinked network.
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 integrated structure with gel polymer electrolyte enhances thermal safety, prevents battery short circuits, and improves high-rate characteristics and cycle life by suppressing dendrite growth and maintaining interfacial adhesion.
Implementation Method 1
an initial adhesion strength at an interface between the anode current collector and the separator of the integrated structure is 0.15 gf/cm to 1.0 gf/cm
Implementation Method 2
Lithium metal forms dendrites on the lithium metal surface due to side reactions with the electrolyte during charge and discharge. The growth of these dendrites causes short circuits between the cathode and the anode
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed are a lithium battery and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein an anode current collector, a separator, and a cathode are sequentially disposed in the lithium battery, wherein an anode active material layer or a protective layer is absent between the anode current collector and the separator, the anode current collector and the separator form an integrated structure, and the initial adhesion strength at an interface between the anode current collector and the separator of the integrated structure is 0.15 gf/cm to 1.0 gf/cm.