Polymer-Coated Lithium-Replenishing Additive for Low Residual Alkali
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lithium-replenishing additives react easily with water and carbon dioxide, leading to high residual alkali content and reduced battery capacity, requiring strict environmental conditions and posing challenges for industrial production.
Innovation Solution
A lithium-replenishing additive with a lithium-rich-material core coated by a polymer layer, where the core is doped with elements like Cu, Co, Al, Ti, V, Zr, or Fe to reduce reactivity, and further coated with a polymer layer to isolate from air, enhancing stability and facilitating industrial production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing lithium-replenishing additive is used, then lithium replenishment effect is achieved, but the additive reacts with water and carbon dioxide forming residual alkali, reducing battery capacity and stability
Solution Approach 1:
A polymer coating layer is introduced as an intermediary between the lithium-replenishing additive core and the external environment (water and carbon dioxide). This coating layer physically isolates the highly active lithium-rich material from harmful substances, preventing residual alkali formation while allowing the core to maintain its lithium replenishment function. The polymer coating acts as a protective barrier that mediates the interaction between the active core and external contaminants.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer coating creates an inert protective environment around the lithium-rich core, shielding it from reactive substances in the air (water and carbon dioxide). This inert barrier prevents direct contact between the active lithium material and harmful external factors, thereby reducing residual alkali content while preserving the replenishment effect.
2Reliability
If existing lithium-replenishing additive is used, then lithium replenishment is achieved, but the additive requires extremely strict environmental requirements during use and storage
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer coating serves as a protective intermediary that enables the lithium-rich core to function effectively under less stringent environmental conditions. By providing this protective barrier, the coating mediates the interaction between the sensitive core material and the external environment, allowing the additive to be used and stored without requiring extremely strict environmental controls.
3Reliability
If existing lithium-replenishing additive is used, then lithium replenishment effect is achieved, but the additive is easy to be oxidized and difficult to be synthesized in quantity
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer coating is applied in advance to the lithium-rich core material, creating a protected structure before the additive is put into service. This preliminary protective action prevents oxidation during synthesis, handling, and storage, enabling large-scale production without the material degrading. The pre-applied coating allows industrial synthesis by protecting the sensitive core during the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer coating acts as a protective intermediary during the synthesis and manufacturing process, shielding the lithium-rich core from oxidation and other harmful reactions. This intermediary protection enables stable, large-scale production by preventing degradation that would otherwise occur during handling and processing.
4Stability of the object's composition
If polymer coating is added to lithium-rich core, then stability and resistance to air reactions are improved, but device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
A thin polymer film or shell is applied to the lithium-rich core, providing protective functionality without significantly increasing structural complexity. The flexible, conformal nature of the thin film coating delivers stability and protection while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that is compatible with existing battery manufacturing processes.
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 additive effectively replenishes lithium, improving battery efficiency and safety by reducing residual alkali content, allowing stable production, storage, and use, and enhancing cycle stability and energy density.
Implementation Method 1
a shell layer disposed at the lithium-rich-material core... The shell layer includes a polymer layer
Implementation Method 2
A nickel source and a lithium source are fully mixed to react at 500° C.−850° C. for 10h-48h to obtain a lithium-rich-material-core precursor
Implementation Method 3
The lithium-rich-material-core precursor and a doping source are mixed to react at 400° C.−700° C. for 1h-6h to obtain a lithium-rich-material core
Data Source
AI summary
A lithium-replenishing additive is provided. The lithium-replenishing additive includes a lithium-rich-material core and a shell layer disposed at the lithium-rich-material core. The lithium-rich-material core is made of a lithium-rich material with an average chemical formula of aNixMyO2·bLi2O, where 0.95≤x≤1, 0.01≤y≤0.05, 1≤z≤1.15, 0.8≤a≤1.1, 0.8≤b≤1.1, and the M includes one or more of copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), zirconium (Zr), or iron (Fe). The shell layer includes a polymer layer. A preparing method of a lithium-replenishing additive and a lithium secondary battery are further provided.