Rotating Barrel Electrode for Sludge Control in Metal Foil Plating
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrode devices for manufacturing metal foils, such as lithium ion secondary battery collectors, face challenges in suppressing the formation and removal of sludge coats on the anode surface and maintaining a consistent inter-electrode distance, which affects the quality and efficiency of the metal foil production, especially when using nonaqueous electrolytic solutions or different metal materials.
Innovation Solution
The electrode device incorporates a barrel with through holes and partition walls that rotate on its axis, allowing metal anodes to collide and stir, maintaining a stable anode-cathode distance and efficiently removing sludge coats through controlled metal introduction and electrolysis, ensuring continuous and high-quality metal foil production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a soluble metal anode is used in electroplating process, then metal film can be formed on the cathode, but sludge coat forms on the anode surface preventing further dissolution
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful sludge coat is extracted and removed from the anode surface by the rotating belt structure that periodically brings the anode into contact with the belt, enabling continuous operation without anode replacement
Solution Approach 2:
The anode is designed to rotate dynamically on the rotating belt, allowing the anode surface to be continuously renewed by bringing fresh metal particles into contact with the cathode, preventing sludge coat accumulation
2Quantity of substance
If the anode dissolves during current application, then metal ions are supplied for plating, but the inter-electrode distance increases leading to higher power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The anode particles automatically replenish themselves by rotating and bringing fresh metal particles into the electroplating zone, maintaining constant inter-electrode distance without external intervention
Solution Approach 2:
Metal particles are pre-loaded onto the rotating belt in advance, so that as particles are consumed, fresh particles are already positioned to take their place, maintaining stable electrode spacing
3Device complexity
If metal particles are simply placed in a container, then the structure is simple, but sludge coat cannot be effectively removed and inter-electrode distance varies
Solution Approach 1:
The rotating belt introduces dynamic motion to the anode particles, causing them to rotate and move continuously, which prevents sludge coat accumulation and maintains stable electrode spacing through mechanical action
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating belt performs multiple functions simultaneously: it holds the anode particles, rotates them to prevent sludge coat formation, maintains inter-electrode distance, and enables continuous operation, consolidating multiple functions into a single structure
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 configuration effectively suppresses sludge coat formation, maintains a stable inter-electrode distance, and enhances the productivity and quality of metal foils by continuously replenishing metals and removing consumed materials, resulting in improved tensile strength and reduced electrolysis voltage.
Implementation Method 1
current is applied between a soluble or insoluble metal (anode) and a peripheral surface of a drum (cathode) which are immersed in a liquid (plating liquid) to form a metal film (plating film) containing a component of the metal to be an anode on the peripheral surface of the drum to be a cathode
Implementation Method 2
the inside of a barrel is charged with an appropriate amount of metal (metal chips, etc.) to be an anode, and mutual collisions of the metals (anode) are made by stirring the inside of the barrel
Implementation Method 3
application of an electroplating process is currently being studied
Data Source
Figure 1~2(b)
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Provided are a novel electrode device capable of simultaneously solving a problem of sludge coat covering an anode surface, and a problem of increase in the inter-electrode distance between the anode and cathode, and a method for manufacturing a metal foil using the same. Disclosed is an electrode device, used while being immersed in an electroconductive liquid, the electrode device comprising: a barrel which has an outer wall having plural through holes and can store a metal soluble in the liquid during current application; a shaft passing through the inside of the barrel and having a peripheral surface to which current can be applied; and a metal introducing portion for introducing the metal into the barrel, wherein the barrel rotates on its axis. The barrel is preferably provided with plural partition walls each extending inward from the outer wall and having a gap with respect to the peripheral surface of the shaft, and plural chambers separated in the peripheral direction of the shaft by the plural partition walls.