Recessed Lithium Electrode Structure for Dendrite Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium metal batteries face safety issues due to rapid lithium dendrite growth, leading to irreversible capacity losses and potential explosions, as lithium reacts with the electrolyte and can pierce through the separator, causing internal short circuits.

Innovation Solution

A lithium electrode design featuring an electrically conductive structure layer with recesses, a solid electrolyte layer, an electrolyte storage layer, and a porous covering layer, which constrains lithium dendrites to plate horizontally, preventing penetration through the separator and reducing contact between the electrolyte and the lithium metal layer, thereby inhibiting vertical growth and avoiding irreversible capacity losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If lithium metal is used to achieve high energy density, then the battery capacity increases, but lithium dendrites form and cause safety issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electrolyte is segmented into two distinct layers: a solid electrolyte layer in contact with the lithium metal layer, and a liquid/gel electrolyte layer above it. This segmentation prevents direct contact between the lithium metal and the liquid/gel electrolyte, thereby preventing dendrite formation and safety issues while maintaining high battery capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solid electrolyte layer acts as an intermediary barrier between the lithium metal layer and the liquid/gel electrolyte layer. It allows ionic conduction while physically preventing the formation and growth of lithium dendrites, thus ensuring safety without compromising the battery's energy density

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If lithium dendrites are allowed to grow vertically, then capacity is maintained, but they pierce the separator causing internal short circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveactive lithiumVSAvoidinternal short circuit

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The solid electrolyte layer functions as a flexible barrier film that conforms to the electrode structure while preventing dendrite penetration. This thin film layer maintains ionic conductivity while physically blocking dendrites from piercing through to the separator, thus preventing internal short circuits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Use of energy by moving object

If lithium metal contacts liquid/gel electrolyte, then ionic conduction occurs, but the electrolyte decomposes causing capacity losses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveionic conductionVSAvoidirreversible capacity losses

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The solid electrolyte layer serves as an intermediary that enables ionic conduction between the lithium metal and the liquid/gel electrolyte without allowing direct contact. This prevents the decomposition reaction while maintaining efficient ionic transport, thus eliminating irreversible capacity losses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The design effectively suppresses lithium dendrite growth, preventing internal shorting and reducing irreversible capacity losses by constraining lithium dendrites to plate horizontally and preventing electrolyte decomposition, thereby enhancing the safety and performance of lithium batteries.

Implementation Method 1

The solid electrolyte layer and the electrolyte storage layer, which is disposed above the solid electrolyte layer efficiently inhibit the height of plating of the lithium dendrite during charging due to the structural strength thereof

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical constraint:

Implementation Method 2

The liquid or gel electrolyte impregnated in the electrolyte storage layer does not contact to the negative active material, the lithium metal layer, to avoid the liquid or gel electrolyte being decomposed

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhysical barrier protection:

Data Source

PatentUS11862802B2Lithium electrode

Publication Date: 2024.01.02 PROLOGIUM TECHNOLOGY CO LTD

AI summary

The invention discloses a lithium electrode. The electrically conductive structure layer has a recess with one-side opening, and the lithium metal layer is disposed on the bottom of the recess. The solid electrolyte layer and the electrolyte storage layer are disposed thereon sequentially. When the lithium metal is plated, the plated lithium metal is restricted by the solid electrolyte layer to push and compress the electrolyte storage layer. Therefore, the growth of the lithium dendrites is limited efficiently. The penetration through issue of the lithium dendrites will not be occurred so that the safety of the lithium metal battery is improved greatly.