All-Electron Battery with Nanostructured Electrodes
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy storage devices, such as batteries and capacitors, face limitations in energy density, charge/discharge speed, and lifespan due to ion transport and chemical reactions, which restrict the performance of mobile devices and vehicles.
Innovation Solution
The All-Electron Battery (AEB) technology combines electron tunneling through a dielectric structure between electrodes with micro-structuring or nano-structuring of electrodes to enhance charge storage density and reduce self-discharge, utilizing inclusions and functional layers to achieve high energy and power density without chemical reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If ion transport is used in batteries to store energy, then energy storage capacity is achieved, but charge/discharge speed becomes slow and degradation rate increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electrochemical ion transport mechanism with a purely electronic charge storage mechanism. Electrons are injected into and extracted from quantum dot inclusions through quantum tunneling and thermal emission, eliminating the need for ion diffusion through electrolytes. This substitution of mechanical/electrical processes for electrochemical processes enables fast charge/discharge rates while maintaining high energy density.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of charge carrier type from ions to electrons, and changes the storage mechanism from bulk electrochemical reactions to surface-bound electron accumulation on quantum dots. This parameter change enables simultaneous achievement of high energy density (through quantum confinement effects) and high power density (through rapid electron transport).
2Device complexity
If conventional capacitor plates with limited area are used, then device geometry is simple, but energy storage density is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs quantum dot inclusions embedded in a dielectric matrix, creating a porous-like structure at the nanoscale. The quantum dots provide high surface area to volume ratio, enabling increased charge storage capacity within a compact geometric footprint. This nanoscale porosity allows electrons to be stored throughout the bulk volume rather than only at electrode surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional surface charge storage in conventional capacitors to three-dimensional bulk charge storage using quantum dot inclusions distributed throughout the dielectric volume. This dimensional transition enables energy storage density to scale with volume rather than surface area, dramatically increasing storage capacity.
3Quantity of substance
If batteries use large size and weight of ions for energy storage, then energy is stored, but storage density per weight becomes low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces heavy ion-based electrochemical storage with lightweight electron-based storage. Electrons have negligible mass compared to ions, enabling high energy density on a weight basis. The quantum dot inclusions provide efficient electron trapping sites without requiring heavy ion-containing electrolytes or electrode materials.
4Quantity of substance
If electrochemical reactions with ion motion are employed, then energy storage is achieved, but response time becomes slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces slow ion diffusion and electrochemical reaction processes with rapid electron transport processes. Electrons can be injected into and extracted from quantum dots through quantum tunneling and thermal emission mechanisms that occur on timescales of microseconds or faster, eliminating the seconds-to-hours response times characteristic of electrochemical batteries.
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
AEBs provide high energy density, fast charge/discharge rates, and extended lifespan with reduced degradation, enabling lightweight, high-capacity energy storage for applications like electric vehicles and portable electronics without the risks associated with ion-based batteries.
Implementation Method 1
Electrons can tunnel through the dielectric between the electrodes and the inclusions, thereby increasing the charge storage density relative to a conventional capacitor
Data Source
AI summary
Improved energy storage is provided by exploiting two physical effects in combination. The first effect can be referred to as the All-Electron Battery (AEB) effect, and relates to the use of inclusions embedded in a dielectric structure between two electrodes of a capacitor. Electrons can tunnel through the dielectric between the electrodes and the inclusions, thereby increasing the charge storage density relative to a conventional capacitor. The second effect can be referred to as an area enhancement effect, and relates to the use of micro-structuring or nano-structuring on one or both of the electrodes to provide an enhanced interface area relative to the electrode geometrical area. Area enhancement is advantageous for reducing the self-discharge rate of the device.