Bipolar Aluminium-Ion Battery Stacking for Low-Resistance Voltage Scaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rechargeable aluminium-ion batteries face limitations in power density and cycle durability, with low power density and a limited number of charge and discharge cycles, leading to rapid deterioration of energy storage capacity, which hinders their commercial development for large-scale electrical energy storage applications.
Innovation Solution
A rechargeable bipolar aluminium-ion battery design featuring a 'sandwich' type stacking of electrochemical cells with shared graphite current collectors, utilizing a pure aluminium anode and carbonaceous cathode, and an electrolyte solution of aluminium halogenide in an ionic liquid, which reduces internal resistance and enhances power and voltage density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional series structure electrochemical cells are used, then the battery can store electrical energy, but the power density is low and voltage is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional series connection architecture by implementing a bipolar configuration where current collectors serve dual functions as both electrodes and current collectors for adjacent cells. This structural inversion eliminates the need for separate current collectors in each cell, reducing internal resistance and enhancing power density while maintaining energy storage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the functions of current collectors and electrodes by using the current collector of one cell as the electrode for the adjacent cell. This consolidation reduces the number of components, lowers internal resistance, and improves overall battery performance without sacrificing energy storage function.
2Reliability
If conventional aluminium-ion batteries are used, then they offer low cost and safety, but the number of charge/discharge cycles is limited and capacity deteriorates rapidly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrochemical parameters by using a bipolar configuration with aluminium chloride-ionic liquid electrolyte and specific voltage ranges (0.5-1.0 V per cell). This parameter optimization enables the battery to achieve over 6000 charge/discharge cycles with minimal capacity deterioration, significantly improving cycle durability while maintaining the inherent safety and cost advantages of aluminium-ion technology.
3Power
If more electrochemical cells are connected in series to increase voltage, then the energy storage capacity increases, but the internal resistance increases and power density decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges adjacent electrochemical cells through a bipolar configuration where the current collector of one cell serves as the electrode of the next cell. This merging approach allows voltage scaling while minimizing the accumulation of internal resistance that would normally occur with conventional series connections, thereby maintaining high power density even as voltage and energy storage capacity increase.
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 battery achieves a voltage up to 200% higher than conventional aluminium-ion batteries, supporting over 6000 charge/discharge cycles without capacity deterioration, and reduces energy storage costs, making it suitable for stationary applications and electric vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
an electrolyte, in which the plurality of electrochemical cells are submerged and which transports the ions released in the first electrode and in the second electrode during the charge and discharge cycles of the battery
Implementation Method 2
a first electrode, comprising an aluminium sheet that undergoes an oxidation reaction during battery discharging
Implementation Method 3
a second electrode, comprising a carbonaceous material that undergoes a reduction reaction during battery discharging
Implementation Method 4
a separation membrane, arranged as a mechanical spacer between the first and second electrodes but allowing ionic exchange between said electrodes
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a rechargeable bipolar aluminium-ion battery and its associated uses. Said battery is capable of producing a voltage up to 200 % higher than that of conventional rechargeable aluminium-ion batteries thanks to the type of materials selected for the electrodes and the "sandwich" type stacking of the electrochemical cells that make it up through the use of graphite current collectors shared between adjacent cells. This configuration effectively reduces internal resistance achieving higher power density and a greater number of charge and discharge cycles without rapid deterioration of the energy storage capacity of the battery.