Aluminum Battery Electrolyte Additive for Moisture-Driven Dendrite Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Aluminum batteries suffer from reduced performance and shortened service life due to the entry of external water vapor, which causes undesirable gas generation and imbalances in aluminum deposition and dissolution, leading to aluminum dendrite formation.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an isocyanate compound into the electrolyte, which reacts with water vapor to form an amine compound that reduces moisture content and enhances aluminum dissolution, inhibiting dendrite formation and maintaining battery performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If external water vapor enters the electrolyte during manufacturing, then the aluminum battery can be assembled, but undesirable gases are generated during charging and discharging, reducing battery performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery assemblyVSAvoidbattery performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The isocyanate compound reacts with the harmful water vapor that entered during manufacturing to form amine compounds, converting the harmful moisture into beneficial products that actually improve battery performance and extend service life

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

Solution Approach 2:

The isocyanate compound acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the harmful water vapor and the electrolyte system, reacting with the water to remove it from the system and prevent its harmful effects on battery performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If aluminum deposition and dissolution rates are unbalanced or aluminum dendrites form on the pole piece surface, then charge accumulation occurs, but the service life of the aluminum battery is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharge storage capacityVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The amine compounds formed from isocyanate-water reactions adsorb onto the pole piece surface to modify it, converting the potentially harmful charge accumulation into a controlled process that prevents dendrite formation while maintaining high charge storage capacity

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

Solution Approach 2:

The isocyanate compound changes the surface parameters of the pole piece through chemical reaction and adsorption, modifying the surface properties to achieve more uniform aluminum deposition and dissolution rates, thereby preventing dendrite formation while maintaining productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 isocyanate compound effectively reduces moisture content, inhibits gas generation, and enhances aluminum dissolution, thereby extending the battery's service life and maintaining good performance.

Implementation Method 1

By reacting the isocyanate functional group with the water vapor in the electrolyte, the moisture content in the electrolyte can be reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

the amine compound is adsorbed on a surface of the negative electrode when the aluminum battery is operating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP4579843B1Aluminum battery
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 APH EPOWER CO LTD
  • EP4579843B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4579843B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4579843B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

An aluminum battery includes a positive electrode (120), a negative electrode (110), a separator, and an electrolyte (130). The separator is disposed between the positive electrode (120) and the negative electrode (110). The electrolyte (130) is impregnated into the separator, the positive electrode (120), and the negative electrode (110). The electrolyte (130) includes aluminum halide, ionic liquid, and an additive, and the additive includes an isocyanate compound.