Doping bath for fabricating the energy storage device

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device, including: a doping bath that receives an electrolyte; a lithium foil that is provided in the doping bath; and a power supply means that supplies power to the lithium foil and at least one cell laminate provided to be sunk in the electrolyte in the doping bath, wherein the power supply means performs a charging process to supply power between a cathode and an anode of the cell laminate and a discharging process to supply power between the lithium foil and the cathode of the cell laminate to dope the anode of the cell laminate with lithium.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0044791, filed on May 13, 2010, entitled “Doping bath for fabricating energy storage device”, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device, and more particularly, to a doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device that simultaneously pre-dopes anodes of a plurality of cell laminates with lithium ions.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, electro-chemical energy storage devices are core components of complete product equipment that are indispensable in all portable information communication equipment and electronic equipment. In addition, the electro-chemical energy storage devices will be used as high-quality energy sources in new & renewable energy fields for future electric vehicles, portable electronic devices, and the like.

Among the electro-chemical energy storage devices, an electro-chemical capacitor may be classified into an electrical double layer capacitor using the principle of an electrical double layer and a hybrid supercapacitor using an electro-chemical oxidation-reduction reaction.

The electrical double layer capacitor is commonly used in fields having high-output energy characteristics but it has a problem such as a small capacitance. In comparison, more research on the hybrid supercapacitor has been conducted as a new alternative to improve capacitance characteristics of the electrical double layer capacitor. In particular, among the hybrid supercapacitor, a lithium ion capacitor (LIC) may have three to four times more storage capacitance as compared to the electrical double layer capacitor.

Meanwhile, the energy storage device is manufactured either as a winding type or a pouch type. The pouch type energy storage device may have a smaller weight than the winding type energy storage device and be fabricated at low cost.

A process for fabricating the pouch type energy storage device may include a stacking process to form a cell laminate by stacking a cathode, a separator, and an anode, having a sheet shape, in sequence, a welding process to weld terminals of the cathode and terminals of the anode, respectively, and a sealing process to seal each cell with aluminum. Herein, when the energy storage device is the lithium ion capacitor, a preprocessing doping process for pre-doping the anode with lithium ions should be further performed prior to the sealing process.

As described above, the process of pre-doping the anode with the lithium ions is performed by receiving the cell laminate in a case and then introducing an electrolyte into the inside of the case. Therefore, the lithium ion pre-doping process is performed on each cell laminate, such that the pre-doping processing is difficult to apply for mass production due to a lowering of productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes to solve the problems that may be generated from an energy storage device. More specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide a doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device that can simultaneously pre-dope a plurality of cell laminates with lithium ions.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device may include: a doping bath that receives an electrolyte; a lithium foil that is provided in the doping bath; and a power supply means that supplies power to the lithium foil and at least one cell laminate provided to be sunk in the electrolyte in the doping bath, wherein the power supply means performs a charging process to supply power between a cathode and an anode of the cell laminate and a discharging process to supply power between the lithium foil and the cathode of the cell laminate to dope the anode of the cell laminate with lithium.

Herein, the doping bath may include a temperature control means that controls the temperature of the electrolyte.

Further, the discharging process may be performed after the charging process is performed, and the charging process and the discharging process may be repeatedly performed.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device, including: a doping bath that receives an electrolyte and has a bottom surface and four side surfaces extended from the bottom surface; a lithium foil that is positioned on at least one side surface of side surfaces in the doping bath; a cathode connection means that is positioned at one side surface of the doping bath; an anode connection means that is positioned at the other surface opposite to the one surface of the doping bath; and a power supply means that supplies power to the cathode connection means, the anode connection means, and the lithium foil.

Herein, the doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device may further include at least one cell laminate that is received in the doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device to be sunk in the electrolyte, wherein the cell laminate includes a cathode, an anode, and a separator, the separator being interposed between the cathode and the anode, the cathode being connected to the cathode connection means, and the anode being connected to the anode connection means.

Further, the power supply means may perform a charging process to supply power between the cathode connection means and the anode connection means and a discharging process to supply power between the lithium foil and the cathode connection means to dope the anode with lithium.

Further, the discharging process may be performed after the charging process is performed, and the charging process and the discharging process may be repeatedly performed.

Further, the cathode and the anode may be physically and electrically connected to the cathode connection means and the anode connection means, respectively, by engaging members.

Further, the engaging member may be a clamp.

Further, the cathode connection means may be fixed to one side surface of the doping bath and include a cathode body part that is electrically connected to the power supply means and at least one cathode load part that extends from the cathode body part to the other side surface at a predetermined length, and the anode connection means may be fixed to the other side surface of the doping bath and include an anode body part that is electrically connected to the power supply means and at least one anode load part that extends from the anode body part to the one surface at a predetermined length.

Further, the cathode body part may be fixed to the outside of one side surface of the doping bath and the cathode load part may be provided by penetrating through the one side surface, and the anode body part may be fixed to the outside of the other side surface of the doping bath and the anode load part may be provided by penetrating through the other side surface.

Further, the cathode body part and the anode body part may be made of a conductive material, and include a cathode connection terminal that is connected to at least one of both ends of the cathode body part and an anode connection terminal that is connected to at least one of both ends of the anode body part, the power supply means being electrically connected to the cathode load part and the anode load part through the cathode connection terminal and the anode connection terminal

Further, the doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device may further include lithium fixing taps that are positioned at edges of the side surfaces of the doping bath.

Further, the lithium fixing tap may be physically engaged with the lithium foil to fix the lithium foil, and be electrically connected to the power supply means to electrically connect the power supply apparatus to the lithium foil.

Further, a step may be formed in a predetermined region of the lithium fixing tap to be spaced from the side surface of the doping bath at a predetermined interval, and the lithium foil may be inserted and fixed into the separate space formed between the step of the lithium fixing tap and the side surface of the doping bath.

Further, a tap connection terminal connected to the power supply means may be provided on the upper portion of the lithium fixing tap.

Further, the doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device may further include a temperature control means that controls the temperature of the electrolyte.

Further, the temperature control means may be a heater and the heater may be provided on a bottom surface of the doping bath.

Further, the doping bath may include an electrolyte outlet that discharges the electrolyte from the doping bath.

Further, the electrolyte outlet may be provided at a side surface of the doping bath and is positioned at a position adjacent to a bottom surface of the doping bath.

Further, the bottom surface of the doping bath may be entirely inclined so that the bottom surface side contacting the side at which the electrolyte outlet is provided is positioned at a lower position.

Further, the lithium foil may be positioned at a lower position than the cathode connection means and the anode connection means.

Further, the lithium foil may be sunk in the electrolyte.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a specific shape of a doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the doping bath of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the doping bath of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the edge portion of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the cell laminate of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the shapes and sizes of elements may be exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals denote like elements throughout the specification.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device 1000 according to a first embodiment of the present invention may include a doping bath 1100, a lithium foil 1200, a power supply means 1300, and a temperature control means 1400.

The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device 1000 may be a device that pre-dopes the cell laminate 1500 with lithium ions.

The doping bath 1100 may be a bath receiving an electrolyte 1110, wherein its upper end portion is opened. The electrolyte 1110 serves to move the ionized lithium ions from the lithium foil 1200.

The lithium foil 1200 may be provided in the doping bath 1100. The lithium foil 1200 may be provided to be fixed onto the side surface of the doping bath 1100 and be sunk in the electrolyte 1110 in the doping bath 1100.

The power supply means 1300 may supply power to the lithium foil 1200 and the cell laminate 1500 to dope the anode 1520 of the cell laminate 1500 with lithium ions. The power supply means 1300 may include a first power supply means 1310 that charges the cell laminate 1500 and a second power supply means 1320 that dopes the anode 1520 of the cell laminate 1500 with lithium ions. At this time, the first power supply means 1310 may include a first power source 1312 and a first on/off switch 1314, and the second power supply means 1320 may include a second power source 1322 and a second on/off switch 1324.

The temperature control means 1400 serves to control the temperature of the electrolyte 1110 received in the doping bath 1100. The temperature control means 1400 serves to control the temperature of the electrolyte 1110 so that the anode 1520 of the cell laminate 1500 is efficiently doped with lithium ions.

The cell laminate 1500 may include a cathode 1510, the anode 1520, and a separator 1530. The separator 1530 may be interposed between the cathode 1510 and the anode 1520 to electrically isolate the cathode 1510 from the anode 1520.

The cell laminate 1500 may be provided to have a shape in which the cathode 1510, the anode 1520, and the separator 1530 are stacked in sequence or a shape in which the cathode 1510, the anode 1520, and the separator 1530 are wound.

A method for doping the cell laminate 1500 with lithium ions using the doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device 1000 will be described. First, at least one cell laminate 1500 is put to be sunk in the electrolyte 1110, while the electrolyte 1110 is received in the doping bath 1100.

Continuously, the power supply means 1300 is connected to the lithium foil 1200 and the cell laminate 1500. At this time, the positive terminal of the first power source 1312 of the first power supply means 1310 of the power supply means 1300 is connected to the cathode 1510 of the cell laminate 1500, and the negative terminal of the first power source 1312 of the first power supply means 1310 is connected to the anode 1520 of the cell laminate 1500. The positive terminal of the second power source 1322 of the second power supply means 1320 of the power supply means 1300 is connected to the lithium foil 1200, and the negative terminal of the second power source 1322 of the second power supply means 1320 is connected to the cathode 1510 of the cell laminate 1500. At this time, the first power supply means 1310 may include the first on/off switch 1314 tuning on/off the first power supply means 1310, and the second power supply means 1320 may include the second on/off switch 1324 turning on/off the second power supply means 1320.

Continuously, the first on/off switch 1314 is changed to a turn-on state to perform a charging process to charge between the cathode 1510 and the anode 1520 of the cell laminate 1500. When the cell laminate 1500 is completely charged, the first on/off switch 1314 is changed to a turn-off state and the second on/off switch 1324 is changed to a turn-on state to discharge between the cathode 1510 and the lithium foil 1200, thereby performing a doping process to dope the anode 1520 with lithium ions.

For explanation convenience, the present embodiment describes that the power supply means 1300 includes each of the first power supply means 1310 and the second power supply means 1320, wherein the first power supply means 1310 and the second power supply means 1320 control the charging process and the discharging process, respectively. However, the power supply means 1300 may be modified to be configured of one circuit simultaneously having the function of the first power supply means 1310 and the function of the second power supply means 1320.

At this time, the discharging process is performed after the charging process is performed, and the charging process and the discharging process are repeatedly performed so that the anode 1520 is sufficiently doped with lithium ions.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a specific shape of a doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the doping bath of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the doping bath of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the edge portion of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the cell laminate of FIG. 3.

A doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device 2000 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device 2000 may include a doping bath 2100, a lithium foil 2200, a cathode connection means 2300, an anode connection means 2400, and a power supply means 2500. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device 2000 may be a device doping a cell laminate 2600 with lithium ions. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device 2000 may further include a temperature control means 2700.

The doping bath 2100 may be provided with a bottom surface 2110 and four side surfaces 2120, 2130, 2140, and 2150 that are extended from the bottom surface 2110, and receive an electrolyte (not shown) in a receiving space formed by the bottom surface 2110 and the four side surfaces 2120, 2130, 2140, and 2150.

An electrolyte outlet 2160 may be provided at any one of the four side surfaces 2120, 2130, 2140, and 2150 of the doping bath 2100. The electrolyte outlet 2160 is provided so as to discharge the electrolyte from the doping bath 2100.

It is preferable that the electrolyte outlet 2160 is provided at the position adjacent to the bottom surface 2110 so as to easily discharge the electrolyte.

Meanwhile, the bottom surface 2110 of, the doping bath 2100 may be provided to be entirely inclined, as shown in FIG. 4. Preferably, the bottom surface 2110 may be provided to be inclined so that the bottom surface side contacting the side surface (a side surface where the electrolyte outlet is indicated by reference numeral 2150 in FIGS. 3 and 4) provided with the electrolyte outlet 2160 is positioned at a lower position than the bottom surface side contacting a side surface (a side surface where the electrolyte outlet is indicated by reference numeral 2140 in FIGS. 3 and 4) opposite to the side surface provided with the electrolyte outlet 2160.

This is to allow the electrolyte not to remain on the bottom surface 2110 of the doping bath 2100 when discharging the electrolyte. In other words, the bottom surface 2110 is provided to be inclined so that the electrolyte is completely discharged from the doping bath 2100 through the electrolyte outlet 2160.

The lithium foil 2200 may be provided on at least one of the side surfaces 2120, 2130, 2140, and 2150 in the doping bath 2100. The lithium foil 2200 may be provided to be sunk in the electrolyte received in the doping bath 2100 and be positioned at a lower portion than a cathode connection means 2300 and an anode connection means 2400 to be described below.

The lithium foil 2200 may be fixed by a lithium fixing tap 2210.

The lithium fixing tap 2210 may be positioned at any one of the four edges of side surfaces 2120, 2130, 2140, and 2150 of the doping bath 2100.

The lithium fixing tap 2210 may be physically engaged with the lithium foil 2200 to fix the lithium foil 2200 and be electrically connected to the power supply means 2500 to electrically connect the power supply means 2500 to the lithium foil 2200.

Seen from the horizontal cross-section, a step 2212 is provided in a predetermined region of the lithium fixing tap 2210, as shown in FIG. 5. The step 2212 is spaced from the side surfaces 2120, 2130, 2140, and 2150 at a predetermined interval to form a separate space 2214 between the step 2212 and any one of the side surfaces 2120, 2130, 2140, and 2150.

The separate space 2214 is inserted with the lithium foil 2200 so that the lithium foil 2200 is fixed, as shown in FIG. 5. In addition, as the lithium foil 2200 is inserted into the separate space 2214, the lithium foil 2200 is electrically connected to the lithium fixing tap 2210.

Meanwhile, the lithium fixing tap 2210 is extended from the upper portion and includes tap connection terminals 2216 that are electrically connected to the power supply means 2500 on the side surfaces 2120, 2130, 2140, and 2150.

The tap connection terminal 2216 is provided at the upper end portions of the side surfaces 2120, 2130, 2140, and 2150, and preferably, is positioned at a high position so as not to be sunk in the electrolyte.

The embodiment of the present invention describes that the lithium foil 2200 is connected to the tap connection terminal 2216 using the lithium fixing tap 2210, but is not limited thereto. For example, the lithium foil 2200 and the tap connection terminal 2216 may also be electrically connected to each other using a clamp.

The cathode connection means 2300 may be positioned at one side surface of the doping bath 2100 and the anode connection means 2400 may be positioned at the other side surface corresponding to the one side surface at which the cathode connection means 2300 is positioned. In FIG. 3 one side surface is shown as a side surface denoted by reference numeral 2120 and the other side surface is shown as a side surface denoted by reference numeral 2130. Hereinafter, for explanation convenience, the one side surface will be described as a side denoted by reference numeral 2120 and the other side surface will be described as a side surface denoted by reference numeral 2130.

The cathode connection means 2300 may be fixed to the upper end portion of the one side surface 2120. The cathode connection means 2300 may include a cathode body part 2320 and a cathode load part 2340. The cathode connection means 2300 may include a cathode connection terminal 2360.

The cathode body part 2320 may serve to fix the cathode connection means 2300 to the one side surface 2120 of the doping bath 2100. The cathode body part 2320 may be fixed to the outside of the one side surface 2120. Further, the cathode body part 2320 may serve to physically fix the cathode load part 2340. When the cathode connection terminal 2360 is provided, the cathode body part 2320 is made of a conductive material to electrically connect the cathode load part 2340 to the cathode connection terminal 2360. At this time, when the cathode connection means 2300 is electrically connected to the power supply means 2500, the power supply means 2500 may be directly connected to the cathode load part 2340 and it may be connected to the cathode load part 2340 through the cathode connection terminal 2360 when the cathode connection terminal 2360 is provided.

The embodiment of the present invention will be described assuming that the cathode connection terminal 2360 is provided.

The cathode load part 2340 may extend from the cathode body part 2320 and extend to the other side surface 2130 of the doping bath 2100 at a predetermined length. When the cathode body part 2320 is fixed to the outside of the one side surface 2120, the cathode load part 2340 may extend by penetrating through the one side surface 2120. At least one or a plurality of cathode load parts 2340 may be arranged at a predetermined interval.

The anode connection means 2400 may be fixed to the upper end portion of the other side surface 2130. The anode connection means 2400 may include an anode body part 2420 and an anode load part 2440. The anode connection means 2400 may include an anode connection terminal 2460.

The anode body part 2420 may serve to fix the anode connection means 2400 to the other side surface 2130 of the doping bath 2100. The cathode body part 2420 may be fixed to the outside of the other side surface 2130. Further, the anode body part 2420 may serve to physically fix the anode load part 2440. When the anode connection terminal 2460 is provided, the anode body part 2420 is made of a conductive material to electrically connect the anode load part 2440 to the anode connection terminal 2460. At this time, when the anode connection means 2400 is electrically connected to the power supply means 2500, the power supply means 2500 may be directly connected to the anode load part 2440. Alternatively, when the anode connection terminal 2460 is provided, the power supply means 2500 may be connected to the anode load part 2420 through the anode connection terminal 2460.

The embodiment of the present invention will be described assuming that the anode connection terminal 2460 is provided.

The anode load part 2440 may extend from the anode body part 2420 and extend to the one side surface 2120 of the doping bath 2100 at a predetermined length. When the anode body part 2420 is fixed to the outside of the other side surface 2130, the anode load part 2440 may extend by penetrating through the other side surface 2130. At least one or a plurality of anode load parts 2440 may be arranged at a predetermined interval.

The power supply means 2500 may supply power to the lithium foil 2200 and the cell laminate 2600 to dope the anode 2620 of the cell laminate 2600 with lithium ions. The power supply means 2500 may include a first power supply means 2510 that charges the cell laminate 2600 and a second power supply means 2520 that dopes the anode 2620 of the cell laminate 2600 with lithium ions. At this time, the first power supply means 2510 may include a first power source 2512 and a first on/off switch 2514, and the second power supply means 2520 may include a second power source 2522 and a second on/off switch 2524.

The power supply means 2500 may be connected to the lithium foil 2200, the cathode connection means 2300, and the anode connection means 2400. At this time, the positive terminal of the first power source 2512 of the first power supply means 2510 of the power supply means 2500 may be connected to the cathode connection means 2300, and the negative terminal of the first power source 2512 of the first power supply means 2510 may be connected to the anode connection means 2400. The positive terminal of the second power source 2522 of the second power supply means 2520 of the power supply means 2500 is connected to the lithium fixing tap 2210, preferably, to the lithium connection terminal 2216, and the negative terminal of the second power source 2522 of the second power supply means 2520 is connected to the cathode connection means 2300.

The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device 2000 is a device that pre-dopes the anode 2620 of the cell laminate 2600 with lithium ions. At this time, the cell laminate 2600 may include the cathode 2610, the anode 2620, and a separator 2630. The separator 2630 may be interposed between the cathode 2610 and the anode 2620 to electrically isolate the cathode 2610 from the anode 2620. The cell laminate 2600 may be provided to have a shape in which the cathode 2610, the anode 2620, and the separator 2630 are stacked in sequence or a shape in which the cathode 2610, the anode 2620, and the separator 2630 are wound. Meanwhile, the cathode 2610 may include a cathode tap 2612 capable of connecting the cathode 2610 to an external device and the anode 2620 may also include an anode tap 2622.

The cell laminate 2600 may perform a lithium ion doping, while being sunk in the doping bath 2100 of the doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device 2000, preferably, in the electrolyte in the doping bath 2100. At this time, the cathode tap 2612 of the cathode 2610 and the anode tap 2622 of the anode 2620 are connected to the cathode connection means 2300 and the anode connection means 2400, preferably, the cathode load part 2340 and the anode load part 2440, respectively, by engaging members 2640, thereby being physically and electrically connected. At this time, the engaging members 2640 may be a clamp engaging the cathode tap 2612 with the cathode load part 234 0 or a clamp engaging the anode tap 2622 with the anode load part 2440.

The temperature control means 2700 serves to control the temperature of the electrolyte received in the doping bath 2100. The temperature control means 2700 serves to control the temperature of the electrolyte so that the anode 2620 of the cell laminate 2600 is efficiently doped with lithium ions. The temperature control means 2700 is provided on a bottom surface 2110 of the doping bath 2100 and may extend to any one of the four side surfaces 2120, 2130, 2140, and 2150 of the doping bath 2100 from the bottom surface 2110 to be connected to the outside. Even though the temperature control means 2700 is shown to extend to a side surface denoted by reference numeral 2150 in FIG. 2, it may extend to any side surfaces. Although not shown in the figure, the temperature control means 2700 may extend to the outside by penetrating through any one of the four side surfaces 2120, 2130, 2140, and 2150. Meanwhile, the temperature control means 2700 may be a heating device that heats the electrolyte, for example, a heater.

A method for doping the cell laminate 2600 with lithium ions using the doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device 2000 will be described. First, at least one cell laminate 2600 is put in the doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device 2000 to be sunk in the electrolyte.

At this time, the cathode tap 2612 of the cell laminate 2600 is engaged with the cathode load part 2340 using the engaging members 2640, and the anode tap 2622 thereof is engaged with the anode load part 2440 using the engaging members 2640.

Continuously, the first on/off switch 2514 is changed to a turn-on state to perform a charging process to charge between the cathode 2610 and the anode 2620 of the cell laminate 2600. When the cell laminate 2600 is completely charged, the first on/off switch 2514 is changed to a turn-off state and the second on/off switch 2524 is changed to a turn-on state to discharge between the cathode 2610 and the lithium foil 2200, thereby performing a doping process to dope the anode 2620 with lithium ions.

At this time, the discharging process is performed after the charging process is performed, and the charging process and the discharging process are repeatedly performed so that the anode 2620 is sufficiently doped with lithium ions.

Herein, when the process to dope the anode 2620 with lithium ions is completed, the cell laminate is pulled out from the doping bath to be subject to a sealing process, thereby making it possible to fabricate an energy storage device.

For explanation convenience, the present embodiment describes that the power supply means 2500 includes each of the first power supply means 2510 and the second power supply means 2520, wherein the first power supply means 2510 and the second power supply means 2520 control the charging process and the discharging process, respectively. However, the power supply means 2500 may be modified to be configured of one circuit simultaneously having the function of the first power supply means 2510 and the function of the second power supply means 2520.

Therefore, after putting the cell laminate in the doping bath in which the electrolyte is received, the charging process and discharging process are repeatedly performed using the doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to the present invention, such that the process of sealing the energy storage device is performed after the process of doping lithium ions, thereby making it possible to easily fabricate a plurality of energy storage devices.

In addition, the doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to the present invention controls the temperature of the electrolyte, thereby making it possible to enhance doping efficiency and remarkably reducing the doping time of lithium ions.

The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to the present invention can dope a plurality of energy storage devices with lithium ions, thereby making it possible to enhance mass-productivity.

In addition, the doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to the present invention can increase the temperature of the electrolyte, thereby making it possible to enhance doping efficiency of lithium ions.

In addition, the doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to the present invention performs a doping process by applying current from the outside rather than using electrical short, thereby making it possible to remarkably reduce the doping time of the lithium ions.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims, and such modifications and variations should be understood to fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device, comprising:

a doping bath that receives an electrolyte;

a lithium foil that is provided in the doping bath; and

a power supply means that supplies power to the lithium foil and at least one cell laminate provided to be sunk in the electrolyte in the doping bath,

wherein the power supply means performs a charging process to supply power between a cathode and an anode of the cell laminate and a discharging process to supply power between the lithium foil and the cathode of the cell laminate to dope the anode of the cell laminate with lithium.

2. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 1, wherein the doping bath includes a temperature control means that controls the temperature of the electrolyte.

3. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 1, wherein the discharging process is performed after the charging process is performed, and the charging process and the discharging process are repeatedly performed.

4. A doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device, comprising:

a doping bath that receives an electrolyte and has a bottom surface and four side surfaces extended from the bottom surface;

a lithium foil that is positioned on at least one surface of side surfaces in the doping bath;

a cathode connection means that is positioned at one side surface of the doping bath;

an anode connection means that is positioned at the other surface opposite to the one surface of the doping bath; and

a power supply means that supplies power to the cathode connection means, the anode connection means, and the lithium foil.

5. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 4, further comprising:

at least one cell laminate that is received in the doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device to be sunk in the electrolyte,

wherein the cell laminate includes a cathode, an anode, and a separator, the separator being interposed between the cathode and the anode, the cathode being connected to the cathode connection means, and the anode being connected to the anode connection means.

6. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 5, wherein the power supply means performs a charging process to supply power between the cathode connection means and the anode connection means and a discharging process to supply power between the lithium foil and the cathode connection means to dope the anode with lithium.

7. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 6, wherein the discharging process is performed after the charging process is performed, and the charging process and the discharging process are repeatedly performed.

8. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 5, wherein the cathode and the anode are physically and electrically connected to the cathode connection means and the anode connection means, respectively, by engaging members.

9. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 8, wherein the engaging member is a clamp.

10. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 4, wherein the cathode connection means is fixed to one side surface of the doping bath and includes a cathode body part that is electrically connected to the power supply means and at least one cathode load part that extends from the cathode body part to the other side surface at a predetermined length, and

the anode connection means is fixed to the other side surface of the doping bath and includes an anode body part that is electrically connected to the power supply means and at least one anode load part that extends from the anode body part to the one surface at a predetermined length.

11. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 10, wherein the cathode body part is fixed to the outside of one side surface of the doping bath and the cathode load part is provided by penetrating through the one side surface, and

the anode body part is fixed to the outside of the other side surface of the doping bath and the anode load part is provided by penetrating through the other side surface.

12. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 10, wherein the cathode body part and the anode body part are made of a conductive material, and include a cathode connection terminal that is connected to at least one of both ends of the cathode body part and an anode connection terminal that is connected to at least one of both ends of the anode body part,

the power supply means being electrically connected to the cathode load part and the anode load part through the cathode connection terminal and the anode connection terminal.

13. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 4, further comprising:

lithium fixing taps that are positioned at edges of the side surfaces of the doping bath.

14. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 13, wherein the lithium fixing tap is physically engaged with the lithium foil to fix the lithium foil, and is electrically connected to the power supply means to electrically connect the power supply means to the lithium foil.

15. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 14, wherein a step is formed in a predetermined region of the lithium fixing tap to be spaced from the side surface of the doping bath at a predetermined interval, and

the lithium foil is inserted and fixed into the separate space formed between the step of the lithium fixing tap and the side surface of the doping bath.

16. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 14, wherein a tap connection terminal connected to the power supply means is provided on the upper portion of the lithium fixing tap.

17. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 4, further comprising:

a temperature control means that controls the temperature of the electrolyte.

18. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 17, wherein the temperature control means is a heater and the heater is provided on a bottom surface of the doping bath.

19. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 4, wherein the doping bath includes an electrolyte outlet that discharges the electrolyte from the doping bath.

20. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 19, wherein the electrolyte outlet is provided at a side surface of the doping bath and is positioned at a position adjacent to a bottom surface of the doping bath.

21. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 20, wherein the bottom surface of the doping bath is entirely inclined so that the bottom surface side contacting the side at which the electrolyte outlet is provided is positioned at a lower position.

22. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 4, wherein the lithium foil is positioned at a lower position than the cathode connection means and the anode connection means.

23. The doping bath for fabricating an energy storage device according to claim 22, wherein the lithium foil is sunk in the electrolyte.