Solid-State Battery Electrode Granule Interface Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current solid-state lithium batteries face challenges in achieving high output due to the lack of an adequate interface between the solid electrolyte and active material, resulting in low lithium ion conductivity, which impedes the formation of a functional solid-state battery electrode.

Innovation Solution

A solid-state battery electrode is formed by creating granules containing a plurality of lithium ion conductors and active materials, which are uniformly mixed with a solid electrolyte using a tumbling fluidized bed granulator, enabling effective lithium ion conduction and enhancing the interface between the electrolyte and active material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If conventional mixing and granulation methods are used to prepare electrode materials, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the lithium ion conductivity is low and output is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery outputVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The electrode material is segmented into granules with specific size ranges (0.1-10 μm for active material, 1-100 μm for lithium ion conductor) to increase surface area and improve lithium ion conduction pathways, directly addressing the low output problem while maintaining manageable manufacturing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite electrode structure combining active material particles with lithium ion conductor granules in specific ratios (95:5 to 50:50 by mass). This composite approach enables both high output through improved ion conductivity and maintains manufacturing feasibility through a modified but not overly complex granulation process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the solid electrolyte is used directly without proper interface formation, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the interface between electrolyte and active material is inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterface qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The lithium ion conductor granules are prepared in advance with specific size and composition before being mixed with the solid electrolyte. This preliminary preparation ensures proper interface formation between the electrolyte and active material, improving reliability without significantly complicating the overall manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the physical parameters of the lithium ion conductor (particle size, surface area, conductivity) to optimize interface formation with the solid electrolyte. By controlling granule size within specific ranges and adjusting the mass ratio, the interface quality is improved while maintaining manufacturing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If large particle diameter active material is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the lithium ion conductivity is very low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium ion conductivityVSAvoidmanufacturing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces dynamic control of particle size distribution in the granulation process, creating a range of granule sizes rather than a single size. This dynamic approach optimizes lithium ion conductivity through increased surface area while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through a continuous granulation process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The active material particle diameter is changed from large particles to fine particles within the 0.1-10 μm range. This parameter change dramatically improves lithium ion conductivity while the tumbling fluidized bed granulation method maintains manufacturing efficiency through a streamlined single-step process

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 approach allows for the production of a solid-state battery electrode that can achieve high output by facilitating lithium ion transfer within the electrode, overcoming the limitations of conventional electrodes and electrolytes.

Implementation Method 1

uniformly mixing the granule with a solid electrolyte using a tumbling fluidized bed granulator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFluidisation: Fluidisation

Data Source

PatentUS9362548B2Solid-state battery electrode
Publication Date: 2016.06.07 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK

AI summary

The invention provides a solid-state battery electrode formed of a lithium ion conductor, an active material, and a solid electrolyte and including a granule that contains a plurality of lithium ion conductors and a plurality of active materials, as well as a method of producing a solid-state battery electrode that has a step of preparing a granule that contains a plurality of lithium ion conductors and a plurality of active materials and a step of uniformly mixing the granule with a solid electrolyte.