Surface-Modified Aluminum Hydroxide in Battery Electrolyte
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current secondary batteries face challenges in improving cycle characteristics, with existing technologies experiencing side reactions and reduced fire-retardant effects due to high specific surface areas and water content, leading to decreased charge and discharge efficiency and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a surface-modified aluminum hydroxide in the electrolyte and negative electrode to reduce side reactions and water content, enhancing cycle retention rates and safety without significantly increasing endothermic temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aluminum hydroxide with high specific surface area is used to improve cycle characteristics, then cycle retention rate is improved, but side reactions increase and charge-discharge efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by modifying only the surface of aluminum hydroxide particles with silane coupling agents, rather than changing the bulk material properties. This surface modification creates a functional gradient where the surface has different properties (lower reactivity, controlled hydrophilicity) than the interior, resolving the contradiction between high surface area benefits and side reaction harms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical and chemical parameters of aluminum hydroxide surface through silane modification, including surface energy, hydrophilicity, and chemical reactivity. By controlling the degree of modification and selecting appropriate silane agents, the patent optimizes the balance between maintaining high surface area for good cycle characteristics while reducing side reactions that harm efficiency.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If aluminum hydroxide is added to ensure safety through fire-retardant effect, then safety is improved, but endothermic temperature increases excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the endothermic decomposition temperature parameter of aluminum hydroxide through surface treatment with silane coupling agents. The modification alters the thermal decomposition behavior, maintaining the fire-retardant safety function while adjusting the endothermic temperature to occur at more appropriate levels for battery operation, preventing excessive temperature increase.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If unmodified aluminum hydroxide is used to suppress gas generation, then safety is improved, but water content remains high causing side reactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses water content and gas suppression through local surface modification rather than bulk material changes. The silane coupling agent creates a hydrophobic or controlled-hydrophilic surface layer that locally manages water interaction, suppressing gas generation while controlling water content to minimize side reactions throughout the electrolyte system.
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 surface-modified aluminum hydroxide improves charge and discharge efficiency and cycle retention rates, while suppressing gas generation and maintaining safety, thus enhancing the overall performance of secondary batteries.
Implementation Method 1
at least a part of a surface of the aluminum hydroxide being modified
Implementation Method 2
without significantly increasing endothermic temperatures
Data Source
AI summary
A battery includes: a positive electrode; a negative electrode; and an electrolyte. At least one of the electrolyte and the negative electrode contains an aluminum hydroxide, at least a part of a surface of the aluminum hydroxide being modified.