Porous Lithium Metal Anode Structure for Dendrite Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium metal batteries suffer from poor cycle characteristics due to the formation of lithium dendrites and electrolyte consumption during charging and discharging, leading to short circuits and rapid deterioration.

Innovation Solution

A lithium metal battery design featuring an anode with a porous layer structure, including regions exposed and inserted into the anode active material layer, which inhibits dendrite formation and electrolyte consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If lithium metal is used as an anode active material to achieve high theoretical electric capacity, then the electric capacity is improved, but dendrites form and grow on the surface causing short circuits and deteriorating lifespan characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectric capacityVSAvoidlifespan characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A porous layer is disposed on the anode active material layer to provide a controlled porous structure that prevents dendrite formation while maintaining high electric capacity. The porous structure allows lithium ion transport while physically constraining dendrite growth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The anode is constructed as a composite structure combining anode active material layer with a porous layer, creating a multi-layer composite that simultaneously achieves high capacity and improved lifespan by separating the functions of lithium storage and dendrite prevention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If lithium metal is used as an anode active material, then high theoretical electric capacity is achieved, but electrolyte consumption increases during charging and discharging processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectric capacityVSAvoidelectrolyte consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The porous layer reduces electrolyte consumption by providing a controlled interface between the electrolyte and anode active material, limiting unnecessary electrolyte decomposition reactions while maintaining ion transport efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Stability of the object's composition

If carbonaceous anode active materials such as graphite are used, then high stability is achieved due to no volume change during charging and discharging, but the theoretical electric capacity is limited to approximately 372 mAh/g

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidtheoretical electric capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite anode structure that combines carbonaceous materials with a porous layer, achieving both the high stability of carbonaceous materials and the enhanced capacity benefits of lithium metal without the dendrite formation problems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP4693433A1Lithium metal battery, and method for manufacturing lithium metal battery anode included therein
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP4693433A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4693433A1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP4693433A1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

Provided are a lithium metal battery and a method for manufacturing an anode included therein, the lithium metal battery comprising a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte disposed between the cathode and the anode, wherein the anode includes an anode current collector, an anode active material layer disposed on the anode current collector, and a porous layer including a porous structure, the porous layer includes a first region exposed on the anode active material layer, and a second region inserted into the anode active material layer, and the anode active material layer includes a second region into which the porous layer is inserted, and a third region into which the porous layer is not inserted.