Anode-free lithium secondary battery and manufacturing method thereof

Anode-free lithium battery with a surplus lithium layer secured by a Li2Cu1-yNiyO2 sacrificial cathode

This technology introduces a sacrificial cathode material (Li2Cu(1-y)NiyO2) into the cathode active material layer of an anode-free lithium secondary battery. During initial charging, this material acts as a lithium source and remains in a delithiated state after discharge, replenishing irreversibly consumed lithium and forming a thin, uniform surplus lithium layer on the anode current collector.

Anode-free lithium secondary batteries have historically faced issues with continuous SEI layer formation due to side reactions with the electrolyte during charge and discharge cycles. This, combined with lithium dendrite growth and non-uniform lithium deposition, has limited battery stability and cycle life.

This technology incorporates 10–40 wt% of a Li2Cu(1-y)NiyO2 (0.3≤y≤0.5) sacrificial cathode material alongside the main cathode active material. During initial charging, lithium released from the sacrificial material deposits onto the anode current collector. Since the sacrificial material does not re-lithiate after discharge, a surplus lithium layer remains to compensate for lithium consumed in subsequent cycles. Applicable to ultra-light wearables and high-energy-density mobile batteries, it reduces volume by eliminating anode materials while mitigating capacity loss over repeated cycles.

‍

‍

Key Features:

• A cathode active material layer containing both a main cathode active material and a sacrificial cathode active material on a cathode current collector
• An anode current collector on the cathode where a lithium layer is formed during charging and consumed during discharging
• A sacrificial cathode active material that remains in a delithiated state even after discharge, represented as Li2-xCu1-yNiyO2
• A formation step that generates a lithium layer on the anode current collector by delithiating the sacrificial and main cathode active materials through initial charging

‍

This invention was developed with support from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy’s Advanced Track for Rare Metal Recycling Technology in Urban Mining.

‍