Polymeric Battery Support Structure for Electrode Delamination
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-based batteries experience volumetric changes due to gas formation, leading to electrode separation and delamination, which degrades ion transfer paths and results in cell failure, with conventional metal-based compressive structures increasing weight and cost while reducing battery performance.
Innovation Solution
A polymeric support system is used as a compressive structure within the battery, comprising a continuous network of polymers that provides mechanical strength and anchors to the electrodes, reducing weight and cost by replacing traditional metal casings and allowing for tunable mechanical properties and ion conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If metal-based compressive structures are used to prevent electrode separation, then mechanical strength is improved, but weight increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to polymer, fundamentally altering the density and mechanical properties. The polymer support structure maintains necessary mechanical strength while reducing weight by replacing high-density metal materials with low-density polymer materials that have sufficient structural integrity for battery applications
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material strategies by combining polymer matrices with reinforcing elements or designing multi-layer polymer structures. This allows the polymer support structure to achieve metal-level mechanical strength while retaining the weight advantages of polymer materials, effectively resolving the contradiction between strength and weight
2Strength
If metal-based compressive structures are used to prevent electrode separation, then mechanical strength is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from metal to polymer, which fundamentally alters both mechanical properties and manufacturing characteristics. Polymers offer lower material costs, reduced machining requirements, and simpler assembly processes compared to metals, thereby reducing overall manufacturing cost while maintaining adequate mechanical strength through optimized polymer structure design
3Weight of moving object
If polymer support system is used to reduce weight, then battery weight is reduced, but mechanical strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material strategies by combining polymer matrices with reinforcing elements or designing multi-layer polymer structures. This allows the polymer support structure to achieve metal-level mechanical strength while retaining the weight advantages of polymer materials, effectively resolving the contradiction between strength and weight
Data Source
AI summary
Electrochemical cells and batteries including a polymeric support system in lieu of a conventional, metal-based structures. The polymer support system provides mechanical strength and mechanical flexibility to the electrochemical cells in a manner that is advantageously greater than what is provided by conventional structures, in spite of the fact that the polymer support system contributes far less to the overall weight of the electrochemical cells. The polymer support system may be present in an interior volume of an electrochemical cell, e.g., in the form of a continuous polymeric network penetrating various components of the electrochemical cell. The penetrating structures may include the anode and cathode current collectors, and any/all components therebetween. Additionally or alternatively, the polymer support system may include various forms of external support structures, chemical anchors, coatings and/or casings of the electrochemical cell. Additional advantageous characteristics include improved recyclability and increased longevity of the electrochemical cells.