Pouch-Shaped Separator Assembly for Battery Short-Circuit Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Secondary batteries are prone to short circuits between the negative and positive electrodes, particularly due to pressure increases or electrode deterioration from over-charging or over-discharging, which can compromise safety.
Innovation Solution
An electrode assembly design featuring a pouch-shaped separator that accommodates electrodes with a larger area, stacked with first and second electrodes, to reduce or prevent short circuits and enhance safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional separator is used between electrodes, then the battery structure is simple, but short circuits occur between electrodes under pressure or during electrode deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is divided into multiple layers including a first separator layer, a second separator layer, and an intermediate layer. Each layer has specific functions: the first and second separator layers provide electrical insulation, while the intermediate layer accommodates the second electrode and provides mechanical support. This segmentation allows the separator to prevent short circuits while maintaining structural integrity under pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
The second electrode is accommodated within the intermediate layer of the separator structure, creating a nested configuration where the electrode is embedded within the separator assembly. This nesting ensures the electrode remains positioned and insulated, preventing contact with the first electrode even when pressure increases or the electrode deteriorates.
2Reliability
If the separator area is increased to accommodate larger electrodes, then short circuit prevention is improved, but the battery volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the separator have different properties optimized for their specific functions. The first and second separator layers have high electrical insulation properties, while the intermediate layer has structural and accommodative properties. This local differentiation allows effective short circuit prevention without requiring uniform increases in separator area throughout the entire battery structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator structure utilizes multiple dimensions and layers rather than simply increasing the planar area. By stacking separator layers and creating a multi-layer configuration with the intermediate layer accommodating the electrode, the solution provides enhanced insulation and electrode containment in the vertical dimension while maintaining compact overall battery volume.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an electrode assembly and a secondary battery, the electrode assembly and the secondary battery exhibiting improved safety. The present disclosure describes an electrode assembly including one or more first electrodes, one or more second electrodes having a greater area than the one or more first electrodes, and one or more separators formed in a pouch shape in which the second electrode is accommodated. The first electrode and the separator in which the second electrode is accommodated are stacked together.