Borate Salt Preparation via Organic Solvent Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for preparing and purifying salt compositions comprising multiple borate anions, such as those used in solid-state electrolytes, face challenges like contamination, unwanted side products, and difficulty in retaining stoichiometry and structure, especially when using mechano-chemical processes or solvents like water, which lead to impurities and inferior properties.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the mixing and drying of borate anions in specific solvents like C2-C6 alcohols, acetonitrile, and DMF, followed by solvent removal to produce a solid salt composition with retained stoichiometry and purity, avoiding incorporation of solvent molecules and mechanical milling debris.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If water is used as solvent for dissolving borate anions, then solubility is improved, but residual solvent molecules are incorporated into the solid salt composition leading to inferior properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameter from water to organic solvents (alcohols, ethers, esters, nitriles, ketones, sulfones, carbonates). This parameter change allows the borate anions to dissolve in the organic solvent and then be recovered as completely anhydrous solids after solvent removal, eliminating water incorporation into the crystal lattice while maintaining high solubility during the dissolution step.
2Ease of manufacture
If mechano-chemical processes are used for preparing salt compositions, then mixing is achieved, but contamination and mechanical milling debris are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical milling system with a chemical dissolution system. Instead of using mechanical energy to force mixing of solid particles, the invention uses chemical solvents to dissolve the borate anions, creating a homogeneous solution that can then be dried to yield a pure mixed-anion salt composition without any mechanical debris or contamination.
3Quantity of substance
If attempts are made to form solid solutions of multiple borate anions through drying, then salt composition is obtained, but stoichiometry and structure are disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary mixing at the molecular level by dissolving the borate anions in a common organic solvent before drying. This preliminary action ensures that the anions are uniformly distributed in the solution phase, and upon drying, the mixed-anion salt crystallizes with the correct stoichiometry and intact structure, avoiding the disruption that occurs when attempting to form solid solutions directly from dry powders.
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
This method produces pure, phase-pure salt compositions with retained stoichiometry and structure, suitable for use in solid-state electrolytes, achieving high purity and single-phase materials without the drawbacks of mechanical milling.
Implementation Method 1
mixing and/or dissolving the anions in a solvent selected from the group consisting of C 2 -C 6 alcohols; acetonitrile; ketone-comprising solvents, glymes, organic carbonates, ethers, C 2 -C 6 thiols, DMF, DMSO and thioethers
Implementation Method 2
drying the solution of step (b) to obtain a solid salt composition comprising the at least two different borate anions
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is directed to a method for the preparation and/or purification of a salt composition comprising at least two different borate anions, comprising the steps: (a) providing at least two different borate anions; (b) mixing and/or dissolving the anions in a solvent selected from the group consisting of C2-C6 alcohols; acetonitrile; ketone-comprising solvents, glymes, organic carbonates, ethers, C2-C6 thiols, DMF, DMSO and thioethers; and (c) drying the solution of step (b) to obtain a solid salt composition comprising the at least two different borate anions, optionally in the predetermined molar ratio. The invention is also directed to corresponding use of the method for the manufacture of a salt composition comprising at least two different borate anions, as well as to related products.