Aluminum Anode Battery With Solid Polymer Electrolyte
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aluminum's reactivity and low ionic conductivity in aqueous systems limit its use in high-capacity batteries, and existing ionic liquid electrolytes are costly and yield low specific capacities.
Innovation Solution
An electrochemical battery with an aluminum anode and a solid ionically conducting polymer material that facilitates ionic conductivity of hydroxide ions, coupled with a manganese dioxide cathode to enhance energy density and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If aluminum is used as an anode material in aqueous systems, then high theoretical voltage and specific energy are achieved, but corrosion side reactions occur rendering it impractical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrolyte parameter from aqueous to non-aqueous ionic liquid, which fundamentally alters the chemical environment to prevent aluminum corrosion while maintaining high specific energy. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by eliminating the corrosive water-aluminum reaction while preserving aluminum's electrochemical benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inert chemical environment using ionic liquid electrolyte that does not react with aluminum, analogous to creating an inert atmosphere. The ionic liquid forms a protective interface that prevents harmful corrosion reactions while allowing beneficial electrochemical reactions to proceed, thus resolving the reliability issue while maintaining high energy density.
2Reliability
If ionic liquid electrolytes are used to enable rechargeable behavior, then aluminum anode becomes practical, but cost increases and specific capacity decreases due to AlCl4- ion participation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using different ionic liquid compositions in different regions of the battery system. Specifically, it employs ionic liquids with cations like Li+, Na+, or K+ paired with anions that do not participate in redox reactions, creating localized optimal conditions at the aluminum anode interface that prevent unwanted AlCl4- formation while maintaining rechargeability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite electrolyte systems combining ionic liquid with solid polymer electrolytes or ceramic materials. This composite approach enables rechargeable behavior through the ionic liquid's flexibility while the solid components provide structural stability and prevent capacity-limiting side reactions, thus resolving both reliability and specific capacity issues.
3Reliability
If aluminum ion battery is researched with intercalation cathodes, then rechargeable aluminum battery is achieved, but ionic conductivity remains low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ionic liquid as an intermediary medium that facilitates aluminum ion transport between electrodes. The ionic liquid's unique properties—high ionic conductivity, chemical stability, and ability to solvate aluminum ions—mediate the interaction between aluminum anode and cathode materials, enabling rechargeable behavior while maintaining high ionic conductivity that overcomes the low conductivity issue in conventional systems.
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 battery achieves high specific capacity and energy density, with improved stability and reduced corrosion, while being cost-effective and environmentally benign.
Implementation Method 1
an electrolyte comprising a solid ionically conducting polymer material interposed between the negative electrode and positive electrode to ionically conduct hydroxide ions between the electrodes
Implementation Method 2
a positive electrode comprising a depolarizer that is capable of electrochemically reacting to produce a hydroxide ion upon reduction
Data Source
AI summary
A battery, having polyvalent aluminum metal as the electrochemically active anode material and also including a solid ionically conducting polymer material.