Buffered Battery Electrolyte for Dynamic pH Cycling Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rechargeable batteries face challenges in achieving high capacity, safety, economic viability, and environmental friendliness due to issues such as highly acidic or alkaline conditions that lead to rapid degradation and the need for frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A rechargeable battery design that uses an electrolyte with two buffers to control pH dynamically between acidic and alkaline conditions during charging and discharging, along with a proton exchange membrane separator, allowing independent control of electrolyte on the cathode and anode sides, and an electrical conditioning process to enhance capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If highly acidic or alkaline conditions are used in the electrolyte, then battery capacity can be increased, but rapid degradation occurs and frequent maintenance is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the electrolyte pH dynamic rather than static. The electrolyte transitions between acidic and alkaline conditions during charging and discharging cycles, allowing the system to adapt its chemical environment to optimize performance at different operational stages while preventing the rapid degradation associated with permanently extreme pH conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pH parameter of the electrolyte over time and operational cycles. By controlling the electrolyte to shift between acidic and alkaline conditions, the system achieves high battery capacity when needed while avoiding the stability issues that would result from maintaining constantly extreme pH levels
2Quantity of substance
If pH is controlled dynamically between acidic and alkaline conditions, then battery capacity is enhanced, but device complexity increases due to buffer system and membrane components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the electrolyte system into distinct functional components: buffer systems that control pH transitions and a proton exchange membrane that facilitates selective ion transport. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, managing the complexity through modular functional division
Solution Approach 2:
The proton exchange membrane acts as an intermediary component that enables the pH control mechanism to function. It facilitates the necessary ion exchange and separation, allowing the buffer systems to effectively control pH transitions without requiring direct complex interactions between all system components
3Device complexity
If traditional single electrolyte system is used, then device complexity is low, but ability to control pH and prevent degradation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite electrolyte system combining multiple buffers (e.g., borate and phosphate) with a proton exchange membrane. This composite approach integrates different functional materials that work together to achieve superior pH control and degradation prevention, overcoming the limitations of simple single-electrolyte systems
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 solution enhances battery capacity by enabling repeated cycling without the need for chemical additions or assembly modifications, while maintaining safety and environmental sustainability.
Implementation Method 1
The electrolyte can control the pH of the battery such that during charging, the pH is acidic and when discharging the pH is alkaline
Implementation Method 2
The electrolyte can include two or more buffers that control the pH of the battery such that during charging, the pH is acidic and when discharging the pH is alkaline
Implementation Method 3
By lowering the pH from alkaline to acidic during charging of the battery, the oxidized by-products formed during discharging of the battery can be dissolved
Implementation Method 4
a proton exchange membrane separator, allowing independent control of electrolyte on the cathode and anode sides
Implementation Method 5
When the anode loses electrons to an external circuit, the anode becomes oxidized
Implementation Method 6
Once the cathode accepts electrons from the internal circuit, the cathode gets reduced
Implementation Method 7
The electrolyte acts as the medium for transferring charge in the form of ions between the two electrodes. Generally, the electrolyte is not electrically conductive but is Ionically conductive
Data Source
AI summary
Particular embodiments described herein provide for a battery that includes a zinc anode, a manganese cathode, and an electrolyte. The electrolyte includes an acetate and a sulfate. In some examples, the acetate to sulfate ratio is about 1:1.