Electrode structure with a barrier layer and manufacturing method thereof

Dendrite-suppressing lithium metal anode using selective barrier transfer on convex structures

This technology forms convex and concave structures on the surface of a lithium metal anode and selectively applies a lithium-non-reactive barrier layer only onto the convex parts, directing lithium-ion intercalation and deintercalation to occur primarily within the concave areas.

When using lithium metal anodes, uneven lithium deposition on the surface leads to dendrite growth. This results in shortened battery life and reduced reliability.

This technology uses a transfer process with a master substrate to create convex and concave structures on the lithium base electrode surface. By placing lithium-non-reactive materials—such as polymers, oxides, or metals—only on the convex parts, electrochemical reactions are confined to the concave areas, where additional surface texturing further improves lithium deposition uniformity. This method can be applied to surface treatment for lithium metal, lithium-sulfur, and anode-free batteries, allowing for the simultaneous creation of patterns and protective layers in a single bonding step without the need for lithography.

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Key Features:

• Forming convex and concave structures on the surface of a base electrode using lithium metal
• Forming a barrier layer containing a lithium-non-reactive material that covers the convex parts while leaving the concave parts exposed
• Bonding a master substrate to the base electrode to form concave parts corresponding to protrusions and convex parts corresponding to depressions
• A barrier layer source material provided within the depressions of the master substrate, which is transferred onto the convex parts during bonding

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This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy for the development of lithium metal secondary battery technology based on ion-distribution-controlled electrolytes and micro-patterned electrode technology for dendrite suppression.

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