Sodium Supplement Material With Exposed Catalyst-Conductive Particles

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In composite sodium supplement materials, the sodium supplement agent, conductive agent, and catalyst typically separate upon addition to the positive active material, hindering conductive and catalytic effects, which limits the practical sodium supplementation efficacy.

Innovation Solution

A sodium supplement material is designed with a sodium supplement agent body and first particles, including conductive and catalyst particles, where the first particles are partially encapsulated and partially exposed, controlled within specific ranges to enhance electron transport and catalytic activity, formed by melting and cooling a sodium supplement agent raw material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If sodium supplement agent, conductive agent, and catalyst are physically mixed, then the material composition is simple, but the components separate upon addition to positive active material, hindering conductive and catalytic effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of material compositionVSAvoidconductive and catalytic effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the sodium supplement agent, conductive agent, and catalyst into a single integrated spherical particle structure. The conductive agent and catalyst are embedded within the sodium supplement agent matrix, ensuring they remain together as a unified composite particle when added to the positive active material, thereby preventing separation and maintaining both conductive and catalytic effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material where the sodium supplement agent forms the matrix and the conductive agent and catalyst are dispersed within it. This composite structure ensures that all three components work synergistically while maintaining their individual functions, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and functional reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If conductive agent particles and catalyst particles are fully encapsulated by sodium supplement agent body, then the structure is stable, but the conductive and catalytic effects are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidconductive and catalytic effects
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a gradient structure where the conductive agent and catalyst are not uniformly distributed but rather concentrated in specific regions of the spherical particle. The embedding depth and distribution are controlled to ensure that portions of these functional particles remain exposed on the surface, providing both structural stability and adequate conductive/catalytic activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial encapsulation rather than complete encapsulation of the conductive agent and catalyst particles. This partial action allows the sodium supplement agent body to provide structural stability while leaving sufficient portions of the conductive and catalytic particles exposed to maintain their functional effects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the number of first particles exposed on surface is increased, then the catalytic activity is enhanced, but the oxidative decomposition potential decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalytic activityVSAvoidoxidative decomposition potential
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the parameter of exposed first particles by controlling the embedding depth and surface exposure during the formation process. By adjusting this parameter, the patent achieves a balance where sufficient catalytic activity is provided through exposed particles while the overall oxidative decomposition potential is maintained at an appropriate level for battery operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 improves the oxidative decomposition potential, enhancing the first-cycle sodium supplementation performance and energy density of sodium-ion batteries.

Implementation Method 1

during calcination, the sodium supplement agent raw material melts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMelting: Melting

Implementation Method 2

During cooling, the sodium supplement agent raw material solidifies

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolidification: Freezing

Implementation Method 3

the sodium supplement agent raw material solidifies and precipitates using the conductive agent particles as a skeleton

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPrecipitation: Precipitation

Data Source

PatentEP4679560A1Sodium supplement material, preparation method thereof, positive eletrode plate and sodium ion battery
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 HITHIUM TECH HK LTD
  • EP4679560A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4679560A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4679560A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a sodium supplement material, its preparation method, positive eletrode plate, and sodium-ion battery. The sodium supplement material includes a sodium supplement agent body and first particles exposed on the surface of the sodium supplement agent body. In any 300 nm × 200 nm region on the surface of the sodium supplement material, the number of first particles ranges from 2 to 20. The first particles include one or more conductive agent particles and one or more catalyst particles.