Battery Cell Oxygen Barrier via Polymer Oxidation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing battery cell manufacturing methods fail to effectively prevent oxygen diffusion into the interior of the battery housing, leading to potential chemical reactions that degrade the battery cell over time, particularly at local breaks such as passage openings and seam points where conventional sealing materials like plastic are insufficient.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the application of a polymer material diffusion barrier layer on the battery housing surface, which is then oxidized to form a surface oxide layer, specifically using silicone that is oxidized to create a thin silicon dioxide layer, effectively inhibiting oxygen penetration without requiring vacuum processes, and potentially applying multiple thin layers for enhanced protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sealing materials like plastic are used to seal passage openings and seam points, then the battery housing can be manufactured with basic sealing, but oxygen diffusion into the battery interior cannot be effectively prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a composite sealing structure consisting of a polymer diffusion barrier layer coated on the battery housing surface, combined with conventional plastic sealing materials. This composite approach leverages the oxygen barrier properties of the polymer layer while maintaining the ease of manufacture of conventional sealing, effectively preventing oxygen diffusion at passage openings and seam points without significantly increasing process complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the surface properties of the polymer diffusion barrier layer through oxidation treatment, transforming it from a non-porous polymer surface to one with oxide characteristics that provide superior oxygen barrier performance. This parameter change in surface chemistry enables the polymer layer to function as an effective oxygen diffusion barrier while maintaining the simplicity of the coating application process
2Reliability
If a diffusion barrier layer is applied to prevent oxygen diffusion, then oxygen barrier performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies oxidation treatment to the polymer diffusion barrier layer to transform its surface properties and enhance oxygen barrier performance. This parameter change in surface chemistry provides superior oxygen diffusion resistance while avoiding the need for complex vacuum deposition processes, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a polymer material as an intermediary layer between the battery housing and the environment. This polymer layer serves as a diffusion barrier that can be applied through conventional coating techniques, and its oxidation treatment further enhances its barrier properties, providing an effective oxygen barrier without requiring complex manufacturing equipment or processes
3Ease of manufacture
If polymer material is used as diffusion barrier layer, then ease of application is improved, but oxygen barrier performance is insufficient without surface oxidation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies oxidation treatment to the polymer diffusion barrier layer to fundamentally change its surface properties. This parameter change transforms the polymer surface from having insufficient oxygen barrier performance to providing superior oxygen diffusion resistance, while the oxidation process itself can be applied relatively simply to maintain ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where the oxidized polymer surface combines the ease of application of polymer coating with the superior oxygen barrier properties of oxide layers. This composite material approach allows the diffusion barrier layer to be applied through simple coating processes while achieving the oxygen diffusion resistance typically associated with more complex inorganic barrier layers
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 method provides a simple and cost-effective means to significantly reduce oxygen diffusion into the battery cell, maintaining its properties over time by forming a robust diffusion barrier that can be scaled industrially, thereby inhibiting degradation and ensuring reliable operation.
Implementation Method 1
the polymer material of the diffusion barrier layer is oxidized at least on the surface to form an oxide layer
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing a battery cell (1) and a battery cell (1) comprises providing a battery housing (3) and introducing electrodes (5) and an electrolyte (9) into the battery housing (3). At least partial regions (23) of a surface, in particular an outer surface, of the battery housing (3) are coated with a diffusion barrier layer (25) made of a polymer material (27) and then the polymer material (27) of the diffusion barrier layer (25) is oxidized at least on the surface to form an oxide layer (29). The polymer material (27) may be in particular silicone so that the oxide layer (29) consists of silicon dioxide. An oxide layer (29) thus generated increases a barrier effect of the diffusion barrier layer (25) considerably and may be generated using technically simple means, such as for example an atmospheric pressure plasma.