Multi-Layer Lithium Metal Anode With Fast Ion Conductor Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium metal anodes in batteries face challenges due to dendrite growth, leading to safety risks, reduced cycle capacity, and short service life, with existing solutions either being costly, complex, or not suitable for large-scale industrial production.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layer lithium metal battery anode comprising a current collector, a lithium metal layer, a fast ionic conductor layer, and a functional protection layer, prepared via evaporation and coating processes, which inhibits dendrite growth and enhances safety and cycle performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a surface covering layer is added to suppress lithium dendrite growth, then safety and cycle stability are improved, but internal resistance increases and lithium ion transport rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The surface covering layer is divided into multiple functional sub-layers: a first covering layer (20-50 nm thick) containing lithium fluoride for initial dendrite suppression and SEI film formation, and a second covering layer (50-200 nm thick) containing carbon material for enhanced mechanical protection and ion transport. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining low overall resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different materials are used in different regions of the surface covering layer to address local requirements: lithium fluoride is placed in the first covering layer where it directly contacts lithium ions to promote uniform deposition and suppress dendrite nucleation, while carbon material is placed in the second covering layer to provide mechanical strength and facilitate ion transport pathways, creating local functional optimization.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a thick surface covering layer is used to completely eliminate lithium dendrites, then safety is improved, but capacity retention rate decreases due to increased internal resistance
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a uniformly thick covering layer throughout, the patent applies a thinner first covering layer (20-50 nm) directly on the lithium metal anode where it is most needed for dendrite suppression, and a thicker second covering layer (50-200 nm) on the outer surface for mechanical protection. This partial thickness distribution achieves effective dendrite elimination while minimizing overall resistance and preserving capacity retention rate above 80% after 500 cycles.
3Reliability
If existing coating methods are used to prepare protection layers, then dendrite growth is suppressed to some extent, but the process is complex and not suitable for large-scale industrial production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single integrated surface covering layer structure that can be prepared in one continuous process. The first and second covering layers are deposited sequentially in the same vacuum chamber using magnetron sputtering, merging dendrite suppression, mechanical protection, and ion transport functions into a unified structure that simplifies manufacturing and enables large-scale production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex chemical coating methods (such as electrochemical deposition or solution-based coating requiring multiple steps, drying, and curing) with physical vapor deposition via magnetron sputtering. This substitution eliminates the need for solvents, heating, and multiple processing steps, allowing direct deposition of the multi-layer structure in a single vacuum process that is easily scalable to industrial production.
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 solution effectively suppresses dendrite growth, improves cycle stability and safety, and is suitable for large-scale industrial production with a cost-effective and controlled preparation process.
Implementation Method 1
a fast ionic conductor layer arranged on one side of the lithium metal layer facing away from the current collector
Implementation Method 2
A preparation method of the multi-layer lithium metal battery anode includes the following steps: (1) a step of depositing lithium metal via evaporation; (2) a step of depositing a fast ionic conductor via evaporation
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a multi-layer lithium metal battery negative electrode, and a preparation method and preparation device therefor. The multi-layer lithium metal battery negative electrode comprises a current collector, a lithium metal layer, a fast ion conductor layer and a functional protection layer. The present invention also relates to a method for preparing the multi-layer lithium metal battery negative electrode, the method characterized by comprising the following steps: (1) a step of evaporating a lithium metal; (2) a step of evaporating a fast ion conductor; and (3) a step of coating a protective material and a polymer solid electrolyte. In addition, the present invention relates to a device for preparing the multi-layer lithium metal battery negative electrode. The multi-layer lithium metal battery negative electrode of the present invention utilizes the composite synergistic effect of the lithium metal layer, the fast ion conductor layer and the functional protection layer, such that the cycling performance, cycling life and safety performance of a lithium metal battery are significantly improved, and the problem of a lithium dendrite appearing in a lithium metal negative electrode is solved.