Slitted Current Collector Structure for Higher-Capacity Solid-State Batteries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing all-solid-state batteries face challenges in maximizing the amount of active material within a given volume to enhance energy density and capacity.

Innovation Solution

The all-solid-state battery design incorporates a solid electrolyte layer with electrode layers stacked alternately, featuring current collectors with slits to accommodate active material layers, thereby increasing the active material content without expanding the battery's volume.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the battery volume is increased to accommodate more active material, then the energy density increases, but the device size and volume occupation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of active materialVSAvoidbattery volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The current collector is divided into multiple segments separated by slits, allowing the active material layer to wrap around and fill the spaces between segments. This segmentation enables more efficient space utilization within the electrode layer, accommodating more active material without increasing overall battery volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The active material layer is designed to wrap around the current collector and extend into the slits, creating a nested structure where the active material is positioned both on the surface and within the internal spaces of the electrode. This nesting maximizes the amount of active material within the given electrode area and battery volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If the current collector is made continuous to ensure good electrical conductivity, then the electrical performance improves, but the amount of active material that can be accommodated decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical conductivityVSAvoidamount of active material

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The current collector is segmented with slits that allow the active material layer to wrap around and make contact with multiple segments. This segmentation maintains electrical conductivity through the wrapped active material while creating additional spaces to accommodate more active material within the same volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The active material layer transitions from a simple planar configuration to a three-dimensional wrapped structure that extends into the slits between current collector segments. This dimensional change allows the active material to access both surface and internal spaces, increasing the total amount of active material without compromising electrical connectivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS20250105361A1All-solid-state battery and manufacturing method thereof

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 SAMSUNG ELECTRO MECHANICS CO LTD

AI summary

An all-solid-state battery includes: a solid electrolyte layer; and a plurality of electrode layers disposed in a stacking direction with the solid electrolyte layer interposed between the plurality of electrode layers. At least one of the plurality of electrode layers includes: a current collector in which an active material accommodating portion is disposed; and an electrode active material layer disposed in the active material accommodating portion and also disposed at at least one surface of the current collector. The active material accommodating portion may include a plurality of slits provided in the current collector.