Anionic Polymer Electrolytes with Directional Li-Ion Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solid electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries face challenges such as low ionic conductivity, high lithium ion affinity, and poor mechanical flexibility, which limit their performance and safety in electrochemical devices.
Innovation Solution
Development of anionic polymers with a Lewis adduct structure, lacking lone pair electrons, that form directional ion channels with low affinity for lithium ions, enabling enhanced ionic conductivity and mechanical flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional solid polymer electrolytes are used, then mechanical flexibility and thermal stability are improved, but ionic conductivity deteriorates due to high lithium ion affinity of ether oxygen atoms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the problematic ether oxygen atoms (lone pair electrons) from the polymer structure that cause high lithium ion affinity. By extracting these electron pairs and replacing them with electron-deficient atoms like boron, the invention eliminates the harmful coordination interaction between polymer and lithium ions while maintaining mechanical flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter of the polymer by replacing atoms with lone pair electrons (oxygen) with atoms lacking lone pair electrons (boron). This fundamental chemical parameter change transforms the polymer from high lithium ion affinity to low lithium ion affinity, enabling high ionic conductivity while maintaining mechanical properties.
2Reliability
If inorganic superionic conductors are used, then ionic conductivity is improved, but mechanical flexibility and adhesion deteriorate due to brittleness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a hybrid material that combines the low lithium ion affinity characteristic of inorganic superionic conductors with the mechanical flexibility of organic polymers. The boron-containing polymer structure achieves this composite effect, providing both high ionic conductivity and mechanical flexibility in a single material system.
3Stability of the object's composition
If polymers with lone pair electrons are used, then mechanical stability is improved, but ion migration is hindered due to high affinity for lithium ions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts removes lone pair electrons from the polymer structure, eliminating the harmful coordination interaction between polymer and lithium ions. This extraction enables fast ion migration while the polymer backbone maintains mechanical stability through alternative bonding structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical parameter by replacing atoms with lone pair electrons with atoms lacking lone pair electrons, fundamentally altering the polymer's interaction with lithium ions. This parameter change enables high ion migration rates while maintaining mechanical stability through the polymer's structural design.
4Reliability
If liquid or gel electrolytes are used, then ionic conductivity is improved, but safety deteriorates due to leakage and flammability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter from liquid/gel to solid polymer, eliminating leakage and flammability hazards. Simultaneously, the chemical parameter is modified to reduce lithium ion affinity, enabling the solid polymer to achieve ionic conductivity comparable to or exceeding liquid electrolytes while providing inherent safety benefits.
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 anionic polymers achieve high ionic conductivity, inhibit dendrite formation, and maintain electrode contact during charge/discharge cycles, improving the performance and safety of lithium-ion batteries.
Implementation Method 1
the polymer is the copolymer of a Lewis acid and a Lewis base
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a novel anionic polymer useful as a solid electrolyte in a lithium battery. The electrolyte matrix provides directional, flexible, polymeric ion channels with 100% lithium conduction with low-to-no affinity of the matrix for the lithium ion, in part due to the low concentration or absence of lone pair electrons in the anionic polymer.