Oriented LiCoO2 Electrodes for Thick Battery Rate Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current battery technologies face challenges with high ion and electron resistance in thick and dense electrodes, leading to diminished charging and discharging rates and excessive heat generation, which limits the thickness and performance of Li-ion batteries.
Innovation Solution
The development of a fully dense LiCoO2 (LCO) electrode with controlled crystal orientation in specific directions (110), (101), or (003) and a smooth surface, enabling improved ion and electron conductivity, allowing for thicker electrodes with enhanced charging and discharging rates while reducing heat generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If electrode thickness is increased to enhance energy density, then capacity is improved, but ion and electron resistance increases leading to diminished charging and discharging rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a gradient structure within the electrode where different regions have optimized properties. The electrode features a porous outer layer with higher porosity for enhanced ion transport and a denser inner layer for structural stability and electron conduction, allowing thick electrodes to maintain high charging/discharging rates throughout the entire thickness
Solution Approach 2:
The electrode is segmented into multiple functional layers with distinct properties. The outer porous layer is separated from the inner dense layer, each performing specialized functions. This segmentation allows the thick electrode to overcome resistance issues by providing dedicated ion transport pathways in the porous outer region while maintaining electron conduction in the dense inner region
2Quantity of substance
If electrode thickness is increased to enhance energy density, then capacity is improved, but heat generation increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The gradient structure with porous outer layer and dense inner layer locally optimizes heat management. The porous outer layer provides enhanced heat dissipation pathways due to its open structure, while the dense inner layer maintains structural integrity. This local differentiation allows thick electrodes to manage heat generation effectively across different regions
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the electrode into thermal management zones, the patent enables differentiated heat dissipation strategies. The porous outer layer acts as a thermal management interface with the electrolyte, facilitating heat removal, while the inner layer provides structural support, preventing thermal runaway in thick electrode configurations
3Reliability
If electrode density is increased to improve conductivity, then electron conduction is enhanced, but ion transport becomes restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by assigning different density characteristics to different electrode regions. The outer porous layer has lower density optimized for ion transport, while the inner dense layer has higher density optimized for electron conduction. This spatial differentiation of density properties allows simultaneous optimization of both ion and electron transport pathways in a thick electrode structure
Data Source
AI summary
Electrodes for batteries, active stacks for batteries, batteries and methods of fabrication are described where the electrode has an LiCoO2 (LCO) electrode layer with a (110), (101), (104), or (003) crystallographic orientation or combinations thereof.