Wire-Type Anode with Inert Metal Layer for Secondary Battery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Secondary batteries face issues with the release of metallic anode active material layers due to volume expansion during charge and discharge, leading to short circuits and insufficient battery capacity, especially in linear battery forms where external impacts are common, and the thickening of the anode active material layer hinders lithium ion distribution.

Innovation Solution

An anode design featuring a wire-type current collector with a metallic anode active material layer and an inert metal layer that has no reactivity with lithium, along with a conductive layer, to prevent material release and enhance electrical conductivity, and a spiral anode configuration to increase surface area and alleviate stress during charging and discharging.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the anode active material layer is made thick to increase capacity, then the battery capacity increases, but lithium ion distribution becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidlithium ion distribution

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The anode is divided into multiple thin active material layers separated by current collector wire, creating a segmented structure that allows lithium ions to distribute uniformly throughout the thick anode while maintaining good ion transport

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If a metallic anode active material layer is used, then high capacity is achieved, but the material may be released by expansion and contraction during charging and discharging

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecapacityVSAvoidmaterial retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The current collector wire is pre-formed with a spiral or mesh structure that can accommodate expansion and contraction of the active material layer during charging and discharging, preventing material release before volume changes occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The thin current collector wire structure acts as a flexible framework that accommodates the volume expansion and contraction of the metallic anode active material during electrochemical cycles, maintaining structural integrity and preventing material release

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Adaptability or versatility

If a linear battery structure is used to achieve good flexibility and high length-to-diameter ratio, then adaptability to various shapes is improved, but external physical impact such as bending frequently occurs causing short circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshape adaptabilityVSAvoidshort circuit prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The current collector is designed as a spiral or coiled structure that inherently absorbs bending stresses and physical impacts, preventing short circuits while maintaining the linear battery's flexibility and adaptability to various shapes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS9537154B2Anode for secondary battery and secondary battery having the same

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure provides an anode for a secondary battery, comprising a wire-type current collector; a metallic anode active material layer formed on the surface of the wire-type current collector and comprising a metallic anode active material; and an inert metal layer formed on the surface of the metallic anode active material layer and having no reactivity with lithium.