Acidified Metal Oxide Cathodes With Controlled Surface Acidity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery technologies face challenges with acidic species in electrodes and electrolytes, as they can degrade components and lead to electrolyte decomposition, gas generation, and cell failure, while also lacking effective methods to control and alter metal oxide surfaces for enhanced performance.

Innovation Solution

The development of acidified metal oxide (AMO) nanomaterials with controlled surface acidity, used in battery electrodes and electrolytes, which are not superacidic, allowing for improved capacity, cyclability, and longevity by incorporating acidic species and electron-withdrawing groups, and employing a single-pot hydrothermal method for synthesis and surface functionalization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If acidic species are incorporated into battery electrodes and electrolytes to enhance reactivity and capacity, then battery capacity and cyclability are improved, but component degradation and electrolyte decomposition occur leading to cell failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidcell stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the acidity level of metal oxide surfaces through surface functionalization with electron-withdrawing groups. The acidity is tuned to be sufficient for enhanced lithium ion reactivity and capacity (improving productivity) but controlled below the threshold that causes component degradation and electrolyte decomposition (preventing reliability deterioration). This is achieved by modifying surface properties rather than bulk composition, allowing independent optimization of reactivity and stability parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by functionalizing only the surface of metal oxide particles with electron-withdrawing groups, rather than modifying the entire bulk material. This creates a localized acidic environment at the electrode-electrolyte interface where it is most beneficial for lithium ion insertion/extraction reactions, while the bulk material and other cell components remain unaffected and stable. The surface area to volume ratio of nanoscale particles amplifies this local effect.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If metal oxide surfaces are modified to control and alter surface characteristics for enhanced performance, then reactivity and electron mobility are improved, but the complexity of synthesis and surface functionalization increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereactivityVSAvoidsynthesis complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles with the surface functionalization step into a single integrated process. Electron-withdrawing groups are introduced during the hydrothermal synthesis itself rather than requiring separate post-synthesis modification steps. This combination simplifies the overall manufacturing process while achieving the desired surface acidity for enhanced reactivity, directly addressing the contradiction between improved performance and increased complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Speed

If superacidic conditions are used to maximize reactivity enhancement, then electron mobility and reaction rates are improved, but system component degradation and unwanted side reactions are catalyzed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereaction rateVSAvoidside reactions

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful effect of strong acidity into a beneficial feature by using controlled surface acidity from electron-withdrawing groups. Instead of applying superacidic conditions that cause degradation, the patent utilizes moderate acidity at the surface to enhance lithium ion reactivity selectively. The electron-withdrawing groups create localized acidic sites that accelerate reactions without generating the harmful side effects associated with bulk superacidic environments, effectively turning a harmful factor into a controlled beneficial one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The use of AMO materials enhances battery performance by achieving significant gains in capacity and cycle life, up to 1000 mAh/g and 100 charge-discharge cycles, respectively, without deteriorating components or causing gas generation, and allows for the creation of safer lithium batteries with passivated anodes.

Implementation Method 1

acidified metal oxide (AMO) nanomaterials with controlled surface acidity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface acidity control:

Implementation Method 2

employing a single-pot hydrothermal method for synthesis and surface functionalization

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrothermal synthesis:

Implementation Method 3

incorporating acidic species and electron-withdrawing groups

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectron withdrawal:

Implementation Method 4

allows for the creation of safer lithium batteries with passivated anodes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSurface passivation:

Data Source

PatentUS11973224B2Battery with acidified cathode and lithium anode

Publication Date: 2024.04.30 HHELI LLC

AI summary

A battery comprising an acidified metal oxide (“AMO”) material, preferably in monodisperse nanoparticulate form 20 nm or less in size, having a pH<7 when suspended in a 5 wt % aqueous solution and a Hammett function H0>−12, at least on its surface.