Olivine Cathode Composite for High-Temperature Conductivity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium batteries with olivine crystal structure cathode active materials, such as LiFePO4 and LiMnPO4, exhibit low electrical conductivity and stability issues at high temperatures, limiting their performance in high-rate applications and high-temperature environments.

Innovation Solution

A composite cathode active material is developed by incorporating an inorganic material like boron nitride or carbide, which serves as a dispersant to improve the electrical conductivity and stability of the olivine crystal structure compounds, enhancing the battery's high-rate properties and discharge capacity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If olivine crystal structure cathode active materials (such as LiFePO4 and LiMnPO4) are used, then stability at high temperatures is improved, but electrical conductivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability at high temperaturesVSAvoidelectrical conductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining olivine crystal structure cathode active materials with conductive carbon materials and binding agents to form a composite cathode active material. This composite structure maintains the high temperature stability of the olivine materials while the conductive carbon components improve the overall electrical conductivity, resolving the contradiction between stability and conductivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If olivine crystal structure cathode active materials are used, then high temperature stability is improved, but high-rate application performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability at high temperaturesVSAvoidhigh-rate application performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The composite cathode active material combines olivine materials with conductive carbon materials, where the carbon network provides rapid electron transport pathways that enable high-rate charge and discharge performance while the olivine core maintains structural stability at high temperatures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Ease of manufacture

If conventional cathode active materials are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but charge/discharge characteristics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcharge/discharge characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials that can be manufactured using conventional cathode fabrication processes. The olivine materials are synthesized through standard solid-state reactions, and the conductive carbon materials are added during the mixing and pressing stages, maintaining ease of manufacture while significantly improving charge/discharge characteristics through enhanced electrical conductivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2538473B1Composite cathode active material, cathode and lithium battery including the composite cathode active material, and method of preparing the composite cathode active material
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP2538473B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2538473B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A composite cathode active material, a cathode and a lithium battery including the composite cathode, and a method of preparing the composite cathode active material, the composite cathode active material including a compound with an olivine crystal structure; and an inorganic material, the inorganic material including a nitride or carbide of at least one element selected from the group of Group 2, Group 13, Group 14, and Group 15 of the periodic table of elements.