Titanium Oxynitride Coated Anode for High-Rate Lithium Battery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lithium batteries using metallic lithium anodes are unstable and have low cycle-life characteristics, while carbonaceous anodes offer high stability but low capacity, and titanium-based oxide anodes have poor conductivity and cycle-life issues during high-rate charging and discharging.
Innovation Solution
An anode active material comprising a titanium-based oxide core with a titanium oxynitride coating formed by reacting the oxide with a nitrogen precursor gas, enhancing conductivity and stability, and increasing the flat-band voltage and capacity of lithium batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If metallic lithium is used as anode material, then battery capacity is improved, but stability and safety deteriorate due to dendritic lithium deposition and high reactivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining Ti-based oxide core with Ti oxynitride coating layer. This composite material approach allows the anode to achieve high capacity (comparable to metallic lithium) while maintaining stability and safety through the protective coating that prevents dendrite formation and unwanted reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by introducing nitrogen into the titanium oxide structure to form Ti oxynitride. This parameter change (adding nitrogen) modifies the material properties to achieve both high capacity and improved stability, resolving the contradiction between capacity and reliability.
2Reliability
If carbonaceous anode is used, then stability is improved, but battery capacity deteriorates due to high porosity and low theoretical capacity density
Solution Approach 1:
The Ti-based oxide with Ti oxynitride coating creates a composite material that achieves both the stability of carbonaceous anodes and the high capacity of metallic lithium anodes, overcoming the capacity limitation of traditional carbonaceous anodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The Ti oxynitride coating is formed on the surface of the Ti-based oxide core, creating different functional zones: the core provides structural stability while the surface coating enhances conductivity and capacity, allowing each part to contribute its optimal properties.
3Speed
If Ti-based oxide anode is used, then high-rate charging and discharging capability is improved due to flat-band voltage of 1V or more, but conductivity and cycle-life characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of Ti-based oxide core with Ti oxynitride coating combines the high-rate charging capability of Ti-based oxide with the superior conductivity and cycle-life characteristics of Ti oxynitride, resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The Ti oxynitride coating is applied specifically on the surface where conductivity and interface stability are most critical, while the bulk Ti-based oxide maintains its high-rate charging capability, allowing each region to optimize its function.
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
The titanium oxynitride coating improves high-rate discharge characteristics, reduces over-potential, and increases battery capacity, leading to more stable and efficient lithium battery performance.
Implementation Method 1
reacting a Ti-based oxide with a nitrogen precursor gas
Data Source
AI summary
An anode active material including a titanium-based (Ti-based) oxide core and a coating of a titanium oxynitride formed on the Ti-based oxide core, and an anode and lithium battery including the anode active material.