Lithium Supplementing Slurry Coating for Low-Impedance Cathodes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current lithium supplementing materials in lithium ion batteries face challenges such as high alkalinity, difficulty in dispersion, agglomeration, and gel formation in positive electrode slurries, leading to high resistance and polarization, and limited adaptability and accuracy in additive amounts.

Innovation Solution

A lithium supplementing slurry comprising a lithium supplementing material, conductive agent, and binder, with specific ratios and properties, is used to create a lithium supplementing coating on the positive electrode plate, allowing for accurate design and improved dispersion, reducing impedance and enhancing lithium supplementing efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If lithium supplementing material is directly mixed with positive electrode active substance, then lithium supplementing effect is achieved, but the positive electrode slurry becomes difficult to disperse and prone to agglomeration and gel formation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium supplementing effectVSAvoidslurry dispersion stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specific solvent system (cyclic carbonate and chain carbonate in 1:1 to 1:4 volume ratio) as an intermediary medium to dissolve the lithium supplementing material before mixing with the positive electrode active substance. This solvent intermediary prevents direct agglomeration between lithium supplementing material particles and active substance particles, ensuring uniform dispersion and preventing gel formation while maintaining the lithium supplementing effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If lithium supplementing material with high alkalinity is used, then lithium supplementing capacity is improved, but the slurry resistance increases and polarization occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium supplementing capacityVSAvoidresistance and polarization
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the particle size parameters of the lithium supplementing material, specifying a D50 (median particle size) range of 0.5-12 μm. By controlling the particle size within this specific range, the patent reduces slurry resistance and polarization while maintaining adequate lithium supplementing capacity. This parameter optimization balances the trade-off between supplementing capacity and electrical performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If lithium oxalate is used as the lithium supplementing active substance with a catalyst, then lithium supplementing effect is achieved, but the adaptability is limited and effective storage time is short

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium supplementing effectVSAvoidapplicability to different lithium supplementing materials
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the catalyst-based approach with a universal solvent system (cyclic carbonate and chain carbonate combination) that can effectively dissolve and disperse multiple types of lithium supplementing materials including lithium oxalate, lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, and lithium phosphate. This universal solvent system eliminates the need for material-specific catalysts, extending adaptability to various lithium compounds while maintaining supplementing effect and improving storage stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20240170649A1Lithium Supplementing Slurry, Positive Electrode Plate, and Lithium Ion Battery
Publication Date: 2024.05.23 JIANGSU ZENIO NEW ENERGY BATTERY TECH CO LTD

AI summary

A lithium supplementing slurry, a positive electrode plate, and a lithium ion battery. The lithium supplementing slurry and a positive electrode slurry are separately dispersed and mixed, such that the problems that the positive electrode slurry is difficult to disperse, easy to agglomerate and gel due to direct addition of a lithium supplementing material into the positive electrode slurry are avoided; according to the design of the present disclosure, the lithium supplementing slurry formed by adding the lithium supplementing material, a conductive agent, and a binder may achieve a better dispersion effect; and after the lithium supplementing slurry is coated on a positive electrode coating, the obtained positive electrode plate is lower in impedance and more excellent in lithium supplementing effect. the additive amount of the lithium supplementing material may also be accurately calculated and the residue of the lithium supplementing material after first charging and discharging is effectively reduced.