Flexible solid electrolyte, all-solid-state lithium battery including the flexible solid electrolyte, and method of preparing the flexible solid electrolyte

Abstract

A flexible solid electrolyte includes a first inorganic protective layer, an inorganic-organic composite electrolyte layer including an inorganic component and an organic component, and a second inorganic protective layer, where the inorganic-organic composite electrolyte layer is disposed between the first inorganic protective layer and the second inorganic protective layer, and the inorganic component and the organic component collectively form a continuous ion conducting path.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0146623, filed on Dec. 14, 2012, and all the benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. §119, the content of which in its entirety is herein incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]Embodiments of the invention relate to a flexible solid electrolyte, an all-solid-state lithium battery including the flexible solid electrolyte, and a method of preparing the flexible solid electrolyte.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Lithium batteries typically have high voltage and high energy densities, and thus are used in various applications. Devices such as electric vehicles, e.g., a hybrid electric vehicle (“HEV”), plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (“PHEV”) and the like, are desired to be operable at high temperatures, to charge or discharge a large quantity of electricity, and to have long-term usability, such that such devices use lithium batteries ha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a flexible solid electrolyte that has excellent stability, high ionic conductivity, and can be easily bent and shaped. The technical effects of this invention include a more flexible and efficient solid state battery with improved performance and durability.

Problems solved by technology

A lithium battery using liquid electrolyte including a lithium salt dissolved in an organic solvent may be chemically unstable when using an electrode operating at a high voltage of about 5 volts (V) or greater.

In such a lithium battery, the liquid electrolyte may begin to decompose at a voltage of about 2.5 V or greater, and a leakage may occur such that a risk of fire or explosion may be high.

Growth potential of dendrite from the liquid electrolyte may lead to self-discharge or overheating of the lithium battery.

However, electrolyte materials for the all-solid-state lithium batteries are inherently brittle and not flexible such that the solid electrolyte may decompose when used along with a lithium anode or a high-voltage electrode, and ionic conductivity of the solid electrolyte may be low due to a high grain boundary resistance.

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