Printable Lithium Prelithiation for Stable Anode Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion batteries face challenges with lithium dendrite formation, irreversible capacity loss due to passivation film formation on anodes, and safety concerns from delithiated products reacting with electrolytes, limiting their specific capacity and cyclability.
Innovation Solution
A printable lithium composition comprising lithium metal powder, a polymer binder, and a rheology modifier, which is stable and can be applied to anodes to pre-lithiate them, enhancing stability and shelf life, and preventing lithium loss at elevated temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If lithium metal powder is used to pre-lithiate anodes, then anode efficiency and capacity are improved, but stability and shelf life deteriorate due to lithium loss at elevated temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
A polymer binder serves as an intermediary substance that stabilizes lithium metal powder particles, preventing direct contact between lithium and oxygen/moisture in the environment. The binder forms a protective interface layer around lithium particles, maintaining stability during storage while allowing lithium to function electrochemically when needed in the battery.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system combining lithium metal powder with polymer binder and rheology modifiers. This composite structure integrates the high capacity benefit of lithium metal with the stability and processability of polymer matrices, achieving both improved anode efficiency and enhanced shelf stability.
2Ease of manufacture
If printable lithium composition is applied to anodes, then manufacturing complexity increases, but ease of manufacture improves through printable application methods
Solution Approach 1:
The invention utilizes printable application methods (such as inkjet printing or spray coating) to deposit lithium composition onto anodes. These methods employ fluid dynamics and aerosol technology to achieve precise, controlled application of lithium material, simplifying manufacturing compared to traditional mechanical handling of reactive lithium metal.
Solution Approach 2:
The lithium metal powder is transformed into a printable composition by adjusting parameters such as particle size, adding polymer binders, and incorporating rheology modifiers. These parameter changes convert reactive lithium metal into a stable, processable slurry or paste that can be applied using standard printing techniques, reducing manufacturing complexity.
3Reliability
If lithium-ion batteries use carbon-based anodes, then safety is improved by avoiding dendrite formation, but specific capacity deteriorates due to irreversible capacity loss
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary action by pre-lithiating the anode before battery assembly. A controlled amount of lithium metal powder is deposited onto the carbon-based anode structure in advance, providing a reservoir of lithium that compensates for the irreversible capacity loss occurring during first charge. This preliminary lithium addition ensures sufficient capacity for subsequent cycles while maintaining the safety benefits of carbon-based materials.
Data Source
AI summary
A prelithiated anode is provided. The prelithiated anode includes an active anode material having deposited thereon a printable composition. The printable lithium composition includes comprising on a solution basis of about 10 to about 50 percent of a lithium metal powder about 0.1 to about 20 percent of a polymer binder, wherein the polymer binder is compatible with the lithium metal powder and is selected from the group consisting of unsaturated elastomers, saturated elastomers, polyacrylic acid, polyvinylidene chloride and polyvinyl acetate, about 0.1 to about 30 percent of a rheology modifier, wherein the rheology modifier is compatible with the lithium metal powder and the polymer binder, and about 50 to about 95 percent of a non-polar solvent, wherein the solvent is compatible with the lithium metal powder and with the polymer binder and wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, acyclic hydrocarbons, and aromatic hydrocarbons.