Alternating Glass Polymer Electrolyte for Moisture Barrier

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium oxygen batteries face issues with electrolyte degradation due to lack of moisture barrier protection in polymer electrolytes and inadequate conductivity and brittleness in glass electrolytes.

Innovation Solution

A lithium oxygen battery design featuring a solid electrolyte composed of alternating ion conductive glass and polymer layers, deposited on an electrically conductive fiber matrix, providing a robust moisture barrier while maintaining ion conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If polymer electrolyte is used in lithium oxygen battery, then ion conductivity is maintained, but moisture barrier protection is inadequate causing lithium anode degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture barrier protectionVSAvoidlithium anode degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining polymer electrolyte with glass coating layers to create a multi-layer protective structure. The glass layers provide moisture barrier protection while the polymer electrolyte maintains ion conductivity, resolving the contradiction between protection and conductivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses thin glass coating layers deposited on the polymer electrolyte to provide moisture barrier protection. These thin films prevent moisture ingress while maintaining the flexibility and ion conductivity of the underlying polymer electrolyte structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If glass electrolyte is used in lithium air battery, then moisture barrier is provided, but conductivity is inadequate and material is too brittle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture barrierVSAvoidion conductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite structure where glass layers provide moisture barrier function while polymer electrolyte layers provide ion conductivity. This composite approach allows both materials to contribute their strengths without suffering their weaknesses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The electrolyte is segmented into alternating layers of glass and polymer materials. Each layer performs its specialized function - glass for moisture protection and polymer for ion transport - eliminating the need for thick brittle glass while maintaining moisture barrier properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If glass electrolyte is used in lithium air battery, then moisture barrier is provided, but thickness required results in brittleness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoisture barrier protectionVSAvoidbrittleness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The electrolyte is divided into multiple thin alternating layers of glass and polymer materials. This segmentation allows the glass to be applied as thin coatings rather than thick blocks, preventing brittleness while maintaining moisture barrier effectiveness through the cumulative effect of multiple layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

By combining brittle glass with flexible polymer electrolyte in a layered composite structure, the overall assembly gains the moisture barrier properties of glass without inheriting its brittleness, as the flexible polymer layers compensate for mechanical stress.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution effectively prevents moisture ingress and maintains efficient ion passage, enhancing the battery's durability and performance by avoiding pinhole-related degradation and brittleness issues.

Implementation Method 1

these electrolytes provided a moisture barrier the thickness of glass material required for these electrolytes resulted in the glass electrolyte not providing adequate conductivity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMoisture barrier:

Implementation Method 2

The solid electrolyte has at least one ion conductive glass layer and at least one ion conductive polymer layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS7691536B2Lithium oxygen batteries and method of producing same

Publication Date: 2010.04.06 JOHNSON IP HOLDING LLC

AI summary

An air lithium battery (10) is provided having two equal halves (11) that are joined together along a centerline (12). Each half includes a substrate (13), a carbon based cathode (14), a solid electrolyte (15), an anode (16), an anode current collector (17), and end seals (19). The solid electrolyte includes alternating layers of ion conductive glass (21) and ion conductive polymer (22) materials.