Nanofiber Electrode Coating Uniformity via Preliminary Action
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional batteries face challenges in achieving high power density for fast charging and discharging while maintaining high capacity, often requiring compromises in size, safety, and weight due to limitations in electrode design and material distribution.
Innovation Solution
The development of fast fibril batteries utilizing conductive nanofibers and nanoscale active materials, where the active material coating is redistributed to create a network with continuous porosity, allowing for shorter electrical pathways and increased active material volume, thereby enhancing charging and discharging speed and capacity without adding weight or safety concerns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If traditional coating techniques are used on carbon nanotube networks, then coating can be applied, but non-uniform coating characteristics occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by coating carbon nanotubes individually before they are assembled into networks. This ensures uniform coating distribution on each nanotube surface before network formation, preventing the non-uniform coating characteristics that occur when coating is applied to already-formed networks. The coating process is performed on dispersed nanotubes, allowing even coverage that would be impossible on aggregated structures.
2Stability of the object's composition
If carbon nanotubes are networked prior to coating, then network structure is formed, but coating uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reverses the conventional sequence by performing coating before network formation. Individual carbon nanotubes are coated with active material while dispersed, ensuring uniform coverage. After coating, the nanotubes are then assembled into networks, preserving both coating uniformity and network structure stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional manufacturing sequence. Instead of networking first then coating, the process coats nanotubes individually first, then forms networks. This inversion solves the fundamental conflict between network structure formation and coating uniformity by establishing the coating layer before network aggregation occurs.
3Quantity of substance
If high surface area supports are used, then charge capacity increases, but electrode complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the inherent porous, high-surface-area structure of carbon nanotube networks as the support framework. The nanotubes naturally form a three-dimensional porous network that provides extensive surface area for active material deposition without requiring additional complex support structures. This achieves high charge capacity while maintaining relative structural simplicity through the use of nanotube porosity.
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
This approach enables batteries with high power and energy density, providing fast charging and discharging capabilities while maintaining safety and reducing the risk of flammability or explosiveness, thus overcoming traditional battery design limitations.
Implementation Method 1
redistributing the active material coating onto the network in the first electrolyte to form the first electrode, wherein the active material coating is redistributed within the network to distribute the active material coating onto both the first multi-wall carbon nanotubes and the second multi-wall carbon nanotubes via electrical charge and discharge
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Provided herein is a battery and an electrode. The battery may include two electrodes; and an electrolyte, wherein at least one electrode further includes: a nano-scale coated network, which includes one or more first carbon nanotubes electrically connected to one or more second carbon nanotubes to form a nano-scale network, wherein at least one of the one or more second carbon nanotubes is in electrical contact with another of the one or more second carbon nanotubes. The battery may further include an active material coating distributed to cover portions of the one or more first carbon nanotubes and portions of the one or more second carbon nanotubes, wherein a plurality of the one or more second carbon nanotubes are in electrical communication with other second carbon nanotubes under the active material coating. Also provided herein is a method of making a battery and an electrode.