US 12,334,535 B2
Apparatus for pre-lithiation of negative electrode and method for pre-lithiation of negative electrode
Seung Hae Hwang, Daejeon (KR); Ye Ri Kim, Daejeon (KR); Su Yeon Lee, Daejeon (KR); Oh Byong Chae, Daejeon (KR); and Seo Young Jeon, Daejeon (KR)
Assigned to LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD., Seoul (KR)
Appl. No. 17/770,829
Filed by LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD., Seoul (KR)
PCT Filed Aug. 13, 2021, PCT No. PCT/KR2021/010786
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 21, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/039448, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 24, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0105343 (KR), filed on Aug. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0393144 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. H01M 4/04 (2006.01); H01M 4/139 (2010.01); H01M 10/058 (2010.01); H01M 4/02 (2006.01)
CPC H01M 4/0445 (2013.01) [H01M 4/0416 (2013.01); H01M 4/139 (2013.01); H01M 10/058 (2013.01); H01M 2004/027 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for pre-lithiating a negative electrode, the apparatus comprising:
a pre-lithiation reactor having a pre-lithiation solution accommodated therein;
a high-pressure chamber surrounding the pre-lithiation reactor, wherein an internal air pressure of the high-pressure chamber is configured to exceed atmospheric pressure;
at least one lithium metal counter electrode disposed in the pre-lithiation solution, the lithium metal counter electrode being disposed to face a negative electrode receivable in the pre-lithiation solution in a state that the lithium metal counter electrode is spaced apart from the negative electrode by a predetermined interval; and
a charge and discharge unit being connectable to the negative electrode and the lithium metal counter electrode to provide a circuit.
 
10. A method of pre-lithiating a negative electrode, the method comprising:
preparing a negative electrode and the apparatus for pre-lithiating the negative electrode according to claim 1;
moving the negative electrode into the pre-lithiation reactor in the high-pressure chamber and immersing the negative electrode in the pre-lithiation solution, wherein the negative electrode is spaced apart from the at least one lithium metal counter electrode;
sealing the high-pressure chamber and injecting gas into the high-pressure chamber to cause an internal air pressure in the high-pressure chamber to exceed atmospheric pressure; and
pre-lithiating the negative electrode by charging and discharging the negative electrode to provide a pre-lithiated negative electrode.
 
14. A method for manufacturing a secondary battery including the method of pre-lithiating a negative electrode according to claim 10.