Negative Electrode Safety Coating for Lithium Plating Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium-ion batteries face severe safety challenges during charging at low temperatures and high rates due to lithium precipitation, which leads to thermal runaway and reduced cycle life, especially when used in electric vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A negative electrode plate with a safety function layer containing metal and ceramic is introduced, enhancing electrode potential and nucleation energy barriers to prevent lithium precipitation and improve thermal stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If charging is performed at low temperature and high rate, then power output is improved, but lithium precipitation occurs at the negative electrode

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower outputVSAvoidlithium precipitation

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A safety function layer comprising metal particles and ceramic particles is introduced as an intermediary between the negative electrode active material and the electrolyte. This intermediate layer modifies the local electrochemical environment, suppresses lithium ion convergence at the electrode surface, and prevents lithium precipitation while maintaining high-rate charging capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the electrode surface by coating metal and ceramic particles. This modifies the electrode potential distribution and nucleation energy barrier, preventing lithium precipitation under high-rate charging conditions while maintaining power output

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If lithium precipitation is suppressed through conventional means, then safety is improved, but charging rate and power output are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidcharging rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The safety function layer uses a composite structure of metal particles and ceramic particles. The metal particles (such as aluminum, magnesium, or their alloys) provide electrochemical activity to modify electrode potential, while the ceramic particles provide structural stability and heat insulation, enabling both safety improvement and maintenance of high charging rates

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Quantity of substance

If metal lithium precipitates at the negative electrode surface, then capacity is temporarily increased, but cycle life is shortened

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelithium capacityVSAvoidcycle life

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The safety function layer performs preliminary anti-action by preventing lithium ion convergence and precipitation before it can occur. By modifying the electrode surface properties and increasing the nucleation energy barrier, the layer stops the harmful process at its inception, preserving both capacity and cycle life

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

4Speed

If the negative electrode potential is lowered to improve charge acceptance, then charging speed is improved, but lithium precipitation is accelerated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecharging speedVSAvoidlithium precipitation

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the electrode surface parameters by coating metal and ceramic particles, which modifies the potential distribution and nucleation energy barrier. This allows the electrode to accept charge rapidly while preventing lithium precipitation through altered surface properties rather than bulk potential changes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 lithium precipitation and thermal runaway, ensuring better cycling performance and safety in lithium-ion batteries, particularly under challenging conditions.

Implementation Method 1

a safety function layer containing metal and ceramic is disposed on a negative electrode active layer, which effectively improves an electrode potential of a negative electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrochemical reaction: Redox Reactions

Implementation Method 2

Because of good heat insulation performance of the ceramic, occurrence of a thermal runaway phenomenon in a nail penetration test may be effectively avoided

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS12555778B2Negative electrode plate and lithium-ion battery

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 ZHUHAI COSMX BATTERY CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed are a negative electrode plate and use thereof. For the negative electrode plate provided in the present disclosure, a negative electrode active layer is coated with a safety function layer containing metal and ceramic, which effectively improve an electrode potential of a negative electrode and a nucleation energy barrier of metal lithium of a lithium-ion battery in a charging process at a low temperature and a high rate, thereby avoiding occurrence of a lithium precipitation phenomenon at the negative electrode. Because of good heat insulation performance of the ceramic, occurrence of a thermal runaway phenomenon in a nail penetration test may be effectively avoided, and safety performance of the battery may be improved. When the negative electrode plate is applied to the lithium-ion battery, the obtained lithium-ion battery has advantages of good cycling performance and high security.