Calcium Metal Battery Electrolyte for Stable High-Density Cycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rechargeable batteries relying on rare elements like lithium are expensive and unsustainable, necessitating a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative.
Innovation Solution
A rechargeable calcium battery design featuring a calcium metal anode, a carbon-sulfur or metal oxide/sulfide cathode, and a multi-component electrolyte with calcium, lithium, or potassium salts in an aprotic solvent, enhancing ion mobility and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If lithium-based batteries are used, then energy storage capacity is achieved, but cost and environmental sustainability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive lithium-based batteries with calcium-based batteries that use abundant, inexpensive materials. The calcium anode, carbon-sulfur cathode, and multi-component electrolyte system provide comparable energy storage capacity while dramatically reducing manufacturing costs and improving environmental sustainability through the use of readily available elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the battery system from lithium-based to calcium-based chemistry. This includes using calcium metal as the anode, carbon-sulfur or metal oxide/sulfide as the cathode, and a multi-component electrolyte containing calcium, lithium, or potassium salts, thereby achieving cost reduction while maintaining performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If calcium is used as an alternative to lithium, then cost and sustainability are improved, but battery performance and stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials to ensure both cost-effectiveness and reliable performance. The cathode uses composite carbon-sulfur compounds or metal oxide/sulfide structures, while the electrolyte is a multi-component composite containing calcium, lithium, or potassium salts in an aprotic solvent. These composite structures provide the necessary stability and performance for calcium-based batteries.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-component electrolyte acts as an intermediary that facilitates stable calcium ion transport between the calcium anode and the cathode. The specific combination of calcium, lithium, or potassium salts in an aprotic solvent creates an stable interface and enables reliable electrochemical reactions, ensuring consistent battery performance.
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 calcium battery achieves high energy density, stable cycling, and fast charge/discharge capabilities with theoretical energy densities of 900 Wh/kg and capacities of 750 mAh/g, supporting sustainable energy storage.
Implementation Method 1
a multi-component electrolyte containing a mixture of different salts... enhancing ion mobility and stability
Implementation Method 2
The present invention is an electrochemical energy storage system based on a calcium metal battery
Data Source
AI summary
A rechargeable calcium battery formed from a calcium metal anode, a cathode formed from a composite carbon/sulfur (C/S), a metal oxide, or a metal sulfide, and a multi-component electrolyte containing a mixture of different salts. The calcium anode is formed as a thin, pure calcium metal foil that is polished and combined with a copper collector for redox activity. The cathode may be formed from a carbon-sulfur (CS) composite or metal oxide/sulfide, such as CaMxOy or CaMxSy, or formed from binary and ternary metals, such as CaM1aM2bOy/Sy and CaM1aM2bM3cOy/Sy. The battery also includes a multi-component electrolyte including calcium salts, such as Ca(TSFI)2, Ca(ClO4)2, Ca(BF4)2, and CaPF6, or the pairing of lithium, sodium and potassium salts with one of the anions, such as Ca(TFSI), NaPF6, and Li(TFSI).