Solid-State Battery Cell Resistive Layer for Internal Short Current Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Metal batteries with solid state electrolytes are prone to internal shorts due to metal dendrites penetrating structural defects, leading to hazardous thermal runaway and combustion, especially after multiple charge and discharge cycles, with existing mechanisms failing to mitigate these effects.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a resistive layer between the electrodes that is ionically and electrically conductive, formed from materials like carbon black, graphene, and polymer electrolytes, to regulate internal current flow and prevent decomposition of the solid state electrolyte, while also using polymer and base film layers to isolate the electrolyte and reduce contact impedance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a solid state electrolyte layer is used to prevent internal shorts, then battery safety is improved, but metal dendrites can still penetrate structural defects causing internal shorts
Solution Approach 1:
The battery cell is divided into multiple functional layers: a solid state electrolyte layer for ion conduction, a resistive layer for current regulation, and polymer electrolyte layers for interface protection. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function, with the resistive layer specifically designed to mitigate internal shorts caused by dendrite penetration of the solid state electrolyte.
Solution Approach 2:
A resistive layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the solid state electrolyte and the electrodes. This resistive layer acts as a mediator that regulates internal current flow and prevents thermal runaway, providing an additional safety mechanism without blocking normal ion transfer.
2Reliability
If a resistive layer is added to regulate internal current flow, then thermal runaway is prevented, but ion transfer between electrodes may be impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The resistive layer is designed with specific local properties: it has electrical resistance to regulate current flow and prevent thermal runaway, but it maintains ionic conductivity to allow necessary ion transfer. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction by making the layer selectively conductive to ions while resistive to electron flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The resistive layer is constructed from composite materials that combine electrical resistance with ionic conductivity. This composite structure allows the layer to simultaneously prevent thermal runaway through electrical resistance while maintaining battery function through ionic conductivity.
3Power
If polymer electrolyte layers are added to reduce contact impedance, then battery performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The polymer electrolyte layers serve multiple functions simultaneously: they reduce contact impedance between the solid state electrolyte and electrodes, provide mechanical flexibility, and protect the solid state electrolyte from decomposition. By merging these functions into a single layer type, the design improves performance without proportionally increasing complexity.
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 resistive layer effectively controls short circuit current, preventing thermal runaway and combustion by regulating the internal short circuit current and maintaining normal battery operation without impeding ion transfer, thus enhancing the safety and longevity of the battery.
Implementation Method 1
The resistive layer can be electrically conductive in order to regulate an internal current flow within the battery cell
Implementation Method 2
The resistive layer can further be ionically conductive to enable a transfer of ions between the first electrode and the second electrode
Implementation Method 3
electrolytes in a battery can provide a pathway for the transfer of charged particles and/or ions between the anode and the cathode of the battery
Data Source
AI summary
An enhanced solid state battery cell is disclosed. The battery cell can include a first electrode, a second electrode, and a solid state electrolyte layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The battery cell can further include a resistive layer interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The resistive layer can be electrically conductive in order to regulate an internal current flow within the battery cell. The internal current flow can result from an internal short circuit formed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The internal short circuit can be formed from the solid state electrolyte layer being penetrated by metal dendrites formed at the first electrode and/or the second electrode.