Porous Carbon Matrix Anode for Silicon Expansion and Cycle Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Silicon-based anode materials in lithium ion batteries experience significant volume expansion during cycling, leading to material pulverization and rapid degradation, limiting their cycling performance.

Innovation Solution

An anode material comprising a carbon matrix with pores, where silicon particles are distributed within these pores, controlled to maintain structural stability and reduce volume expansion by regulating the ratio of peak values in the differential capacity versus potential graph, ensuring silicon particles are uniformly distributed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If silicon-based anode materials are used to achieve high capacity, then the energy density is improved, but the volume expansion during cycling causes material pulverization and rapid degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecapacityVSAvoidcycling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Silicon particles are nested within the pores of the carbon matrix, creating a hierarchical structure where the carbon matrix provides a protective framework while accommodating silicon particles. This nested configuration allows silicon to expand and contract within the confined pore spaces without causing macroscopic pulverization, thereby maintaining structural integrity and improving cycling performance while preserving high capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The carbon matrix is designed with a controlled porous structure that provides sufficient space for silicon particle expansion during lithiation. The porous architecture allows the silicon particles to undergo volume changes without generating excessive stress that would lead to pulverization, thus maintaining both high capacity and improved cycling stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Volume of moving object

If nanomization is applied to reduce silicon expansion, then the volume expansion is reduced, but the long-cycling performance still has significant improvement space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesilicon expansionVSAvoidlong-cycling performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates a composite material system combining silicon particles with a porous carbon matrix. The carbon matrix serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, accommodates volume expansion, conducts electrons, and prevents silicon particle aggregation. This composite structure synergistically improves both the volume expansion control and long-cycling performance, overcoming the limitations of simple nanomization approaches.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP4579804A1Negative electrode material and preparation method therefor, lithium-ion battery
Publication Date: 2025.07.02 BTR NEW MATERIAL GRP CO LTD
  • EP4579804A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4579804A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4579804A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Provided are a negative electrode material and a preparation method thereof, as well as a lithium ion battery. a negative electrode prepared from the negative electrode material act as an operating electrode, a metal lithium act as a reference electrode, the metal lithium act as a counter electrode, and an electrolyte contains metal lithium ions, forming a three-electrode battery for charging and discharging, and when the negative electrode material is electrified in a de-intercalation direction, a graph of a relationship between a differential value dQ/dV obtained by differentiating a potential V of the operating electrode based on the reference electrode to a charge and discharge capacity Q and the potential V of the operating electrode is obtained; and in the graph of the relationship between dQ/dV and the potential V, the differential value dQ/dV of the potential V between 20mV and 80mV has a maximum peak value A1, and the differential value dQ/dV of the potential V between 120mV and 210mV has a maximum peak value B1, where B1/A1≤4. According to the negative electrode material provided by the present disclosure, the volume expansion of the negative electrode material can be effectively inhibited and the cycle performance of the negative electrode material can be improved.