Mesh Current Collector Lithium Battery Dendrite Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary batteries face issues with volume expansion due to lithium dendrite formation on the negative electrode current collector, leading to capacity decline and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A negative electrode design featuring a mesh-type current collector with openings and a lithium thin film, where the lithium thin film is partially inserted into the openings, creating empty space to prevent dendrite growth, and a manufacturing method involving rolling the lithium thin film onto the current collector to control the inserted and non-inserted portions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lithium foil is attached on a planar current collector, then the negative electrode can be formed, but lithium dendrite forms irregularly during charge and discharge leading to capacity decline
Solution Approach 1:
The planar current collector is segmented into a mesh-type structure with multiple openings, dividing the continuous lithium foil into discrete segments that are inserted into individual openings. This segmentation prevents the continuous growth of lithium dendrites across the entire electrode surface, isolating dendrite formation to individual openings where it can be contained and managed without affecting the overall electrode integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The current collector is designed with different local properties: the mesh structure provides open spaces for lithium insertion, while the remaining collector areas maintain structural support. The lithium foil is selectively inserted into specific openings rather than covering the entire surface, creating local variations in lithium distribution that prevent uniform dendrite growth and improve capacity retention.
2Reliability
If a mesh-type current collector with openings is used, then lithium dendrite growth is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The current collector is designed as a mesh-type porous structure with controlled openings, allowing lithium foil to be inserted into the pores. This porous design enables dendrite suppression by confining lithium growth within the openings while maintaining the electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of the current collector. The mesh structure provides a balance between complexity and functionality, using a relatively simple geometric pattern to achieve sophisticated dendrite control.
3Reliability
If lithium thin film is partially inserted into openings, then empty space is formed to prevent dendrite, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The lithium thin film is partially inserted into the openings rather than completely filling them, deliberately leaving empty space at the top of each opening. This partial insertion is sufficient to provide the necessary dendrite prevention functionality while avoiding the need for precise control of complete filling. The excess space is intentionally maintained to ensure dendrite containment without requiring high manufacturing precision for insertion depth.
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 design enhances cell safety by preventing lithium dendrite growth, improving electron distribution, and maintaining high capacity retention rates, especially under increased discharge rates, compared to traditional lithium secondary batteries.
Implementation Method 1
a lithium thin film having portions inserted into the openings and a non-inserted portion that is not inserted; wherein the thickness of the inserted portion (d 210 ) is 20% to 60% of the thickness of the whole lithium thin film (d 200 ), the remainder of the openings being empty space
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery comprising a mesh-type current collector and a lithium thin film, and in particular, to a negative electrode in which a lithium thin film is inserted to an opening of a current collector and empty space is formed, a lithium secondary battery comprising the same, and a manufacturing method thereof. The present disclosure is capable of enhancing safety of the lithium secondary battery by preventing lithium dendrite growth. In addition, the present disclosure is capable of preventing stripping of the negative electrode current collector and the lithium thin film while charging and discharging the battery since adhesion efficiency increases between the negative electrode and the current collector.