Li-Ion Battery Negative Electrode Tuning for Lower Self-Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium-ion batteries experience significant self-discharge, which affects their performance and capacity retention, despite existing improvements in the field.

Innovation Solution

A lithium-ion battery negative electrode with specific parameters such as compaction density, application weight, thickness, diffusion resistance, and composition, including artificial graphite and silicon-carbon material, is developed to reduce self-discharge current.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the negative electrode material compaction density is increased to improve capacity retention, then the self-discharge current increases, but the capacity retention rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapacity retention rateVSAvoidself-discharge current
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the compaction density parameter of the negative electrode material within a specific range (1.3-1.7 g/cm³) to achieve the best balance between capacity retention and self-discharge current. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal value that simultaneously improves both metrics rather than simply increasing density.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite negative electrode material containing both artificial graphite and silicon-carbon materials in specific ratios. This composite structure allows the electrode to maintain good capacity retention while controlling self-discharge current, as the two materials complement each other's properties to resolve the technical contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If the negative electrode material thickness is increased to improve capacitance, then the diffusion resistance increases, but the electrochemical performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecapacitanceVSAvoidelectrochemical performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the thickness parameter of the negative electrode material within a specific range (20-50 μm) to achieve the best balance between capacitance and diffusion resistance. This parameter optimization ensures that the electrode has sufficient capacitance while maintaining low diffusion resistance for good electrochemical performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different material compositions and properties to different regions of the negative electrode. By creating local variations in material composition (graphite and silicon-carbon ratios) and structure, the electrode achieves uniform lithium ion diffusion and maintains good electrochemical performance across the entire electrode area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 optimized negative electrode effectively reduces self-discharge current, improving capacity retention rates to 83.2% - 86% after 30 days at 60°C, with reduced internal resistance and enhanced capacitance.

Implementation Method 1

the negative electrode has a diffusion resistance of 2.5 - 4 Ω*cm2

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP4645438A1Lithium-ion battery negative electrode and lithium-ion battery
Publication Date: 2025.11.05 TECHTRONIC CORDLESS GP
  • EP4645438A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4645438A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4645438A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to the field of batteries, in particular to a lithium-ion battery negative electrode and a lithium-ion battery. A negative electrode for a lithium-ion battery comprises a negative electrode current collector and a negative electrode material applied to the negative electrode current collector, characterized in that a compaction density of the negative electrode material is 1.3 - 1.7 g/cm3, a single-side application weight of the negative electrode material on the negative electrode current collector is 3.5 - 6.5 mg/cm2, and a single-side negative electrode material thickness of the negative electrode is 20 - 50 µm. The negative electrode for a lithium-ion battery can improve the self-discharge current of a lithium-ion battery.