Multi-Layered Electrode Active Material for Battery Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium secondary batteries face performance deterioration due to non-uniform dispersion and exfoliation of binders in the electrode active material layer, leading to increased resistance, particularly as the loading amount of electrode active material increases.

Innovation Solution

A multi-layered electrode active material layer is formed with varying loading amounts and compositions across layers, ensuring uniform binder dispersion and improved electric conductivity, preventing binder separation and resistance increase.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the loading amount of electrode active material is increased to achieve high capacity, then the battery capacity is improved, but the binder becomes non-uniformly dispersed and exfoliates from the electrode active material layer, leading to increased resistance and performance deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading amount of electrode active materialVSAvoidbinder dispersion uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode active material layer is divided into multiple sub-layers (first, second, and third electrode active material layers) with different binder contents. This segmentation allows each sub-layer to have optimized binder distribution, preventing the non-uniform dispersion and exfoliation that occurs in single-layer structures with high active material loading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the electrode active material layer have different binder contents tailored to local requirements. The first layer has higher binder content for strong adhesion to the current collector, the second layer has moderate binder content, and the third layer has lower binder content to maximize active material density while maintaining sufficient binding. This local quality variation resolves the contradiction between high loading amount and uniform binder dispersion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If the loading amount of electrode active material is increased to achieve high capacity, then the battery capacity is improved, but the battery resistance increases due to binder exfoliation and non-uniform dispersion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveloading amount of electrode active materialVSAvoidbattery resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Dividing the electrode active material layer into multiple sub-layers prevents binder exfoliation and maintains continuous electrical pathways. The segmented structure ensures that binder remains effectively distributed throughout the entire thickness of the electrode active material layer, preventing resistance increase even at high overall loading amounts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

By optimizing binder content locally in different layers (higher in the first layer for adhesion, lower in the third layer for density), the structure maintains low resistance throughout. The gradient distribution of binder ensures continuous conductive networks while maximizing active material content, thus improving capacity without increasing resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Device complexity

If a single-layer electrode active material layer is used to simplify the structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the binder disperses non-uniformly and exfoliates from the electrode active material layer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrode structure complexityVSAvoidbinder dispersion uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode active material layer is segmented into multiple sub-layers, each with controlled binder content. This segmentation transforms a complex stability problem in a single layer into manageable, optimized sub-structures. The increased structural complexity at the layer level actually simplifies the binder dispersion issue by providing multiple interfaces and gradient transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of attempting uniform binder distribution throughout a single thick layer (which fails), the structure uses local quality variation across multiple thin layers. Each layer has binder content optimized for its specific position and function, ensuring stable composition throughout the electrode while maintaining overall structural simplicity in the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9543568B2Electrode including multi-layered electrode active material layer and secondary battery including the same
Publication Date: 2017.01.10 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

The present invention relates to an electrode comprising multi-layered electrode active material layer and a secondary battery comprising the same. According to the embodiments of the present invention comprises electrode having multi-layered electrode active material layer, wherein the content of the active materials which forms the electrode active material layers is equally maintained and the loading amounts at each layer are either the same or different from each other, thereby solving the problem of performance deterioration caused by an increase in battery resistance due to non-uniform dispersion of a binder or the like.