Porous Current Collector Electrode for Faster Electrolyte Wetting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production complexity and manufacturing costs of electrochemical storage cells, such as lithium ion batteries, are high due to limitations in energy density, lifetime, and charge/discharge rates, which are affected by temperature evolution and aging effects during charging and discharging.
Innovation Solution
An electrode with a nonporous application region and a porous contact-connection region, where the contact-connection region is integral to the output conductor foil and lacks electrode coating, allowing for rapid electrolyte wettability and reduced weight, enabling efficient electrical contact and minimizing production complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the output conductor foil is made nonporous to maintain mechanical stability and enable coating application, then the mechanical stability and ease of manufacture are improved, but the electrolyte wettability and charge/discharge rate are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The output conductor foil is designed with different porosity characteristics in different regions: the application region is nonporous to maintain mechanical stability and enable coating application, while the contact-connection region is porous to enable rapid electrolyte wettability. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by assigning different properties to different functional zones of the same component.
Solution Approach 2:
The output conductor foil is segmented into functionally distinct regions: an application region for electrode coating and a contact-connection region for electrical contact. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized independently - the application region for mechanical stability and the contact-connection region for electrolyte penetration - thereby resolving the contradiction between mechanical stability and charge/discharge rate.
2Productivity
If the contact-connection region is made porous to enable rapid electrolyte penetration, then the productivity and energy density are improved, but the mechanical stability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The porous structure is localized only to the contact-connection region where it is needed for electrolyte penetration, while the application region maintains a nonporous structure for mechanical stability. This local quality differentiation allows the system to achieve rapid electrolyte wettability without compromising overall mechanical integrity.
3Quantity of substance
If electrode coating is applied to the contact-connection region, then the energy density is improved, but the electrolyte penetration and charge/discharge rate are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The electrode coating is applied only to the application region and deliberately excluded from the contact-connection region. This local quality differentiation ensures that the contact-connection region remains open-pored for rapid electrolyte penetration and high charge/discharge rates, while the application region contains the coating to provide energy density.
4Strength
If the output conductor foil is made thicker to improve mechanical stability, then the strength is improved, but the specific energy and production cost are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The output conductor foil is segmented into a thicker application region for mechanical stability and a thinner porous contact-connection region for weight reduction. This segmentation allows the foil to achieve the necessary mechanical strength while minimizing overall weight to improve specific energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact-connection region is designed with a porous structure that reduces material usage and weight compared to a solid nonporous structure, while still providing sufficient mechanical support and enabling rapid electrolyte penetration to improve specific energy.
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
This design enhances the mechanical stability, reduces production costs, increases specific energy, and extends the lifetime of electrochemical storage cells by allowing rapid and uniform electrolyte penetration and improved heat dissipation, while maintaining mechanical stability and reducing the risk of soft shorts.
Implementation Method 1
the porous contact-connection region, in the production of an electrochemical storage cell, enables rapid wettability of the electrode(s) and further components such as separators with electrolyte, since this can penetrate through the openings in the contact-connection region into an ensemble consisting of electrodes and separators
Implementation Method 2
An electrochemical storage cell is an electrochemical-based energy storage means which is in particular rechargeable and is designed to store electrical energy and to provide it to consumers
Implementation Method 3
with a separator for electrical insulation disposed between every cathode and anode
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode for an electrochemical storage cell is provided. The electrode includes a conductor foil having an application area and a contacting area, wherein an electrode coating is applied in the application area, and wherein the conductor foil is at least partially porous in the contacting region and not porous in the application are. Also, an electrochemical storage cell is specified.