Carbon-Coated Alkaline Source Materials for Battery Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current battery technologies fail to meet the energy density requirements for electric vehicles, and alkaline source materials in batteries face challenges with chemical stability, structural stability, and conductivity, leading to inefficiencies in lithium or sodium ion supply during the initial cycle.

Innovation Solution

A process involving carbon coating of alkaline source materials to enhance their chemical and structural stability, combined with a catalyst, to form a composite material that can be used as a coating on the cathode or in the electrolyte, reducing activation potential and improving the first cycle efficiency of batteries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If alkaline source materials are used to improve energy density, then battery capacity increases, but chemical stability and structural stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidchemical stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

A carbon coating layer is applied as an intermediary between the alkaline source material and the electrolyte. This carbon layer mediates the interaction by providing a stable interface that prevents direct chemical reactions between the alkaline material and electrolyte, thereby maintaining chemical stability while allowing the alkaline source to function and provide high capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure combining carbon material with alkaline source material. This composite approach allows the carbon component to provide structural stability and chemical inertness, while the alkaline source component delivers high capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between stability and capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If alkaline source materials are used to increase energy density, then battery capacity improves, but conductivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidconductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The carbon coating serves as a conductive intermediary that bridges the alkaline source material and the electrolyte. Carbon's inherent electrical conductivity allows efficient electron transport, while its coating structure maintains contact between components, thus improving conductivity reliability without sacrificing the high capacity benefit of alkaline source materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If alkaline source materials are used to achieve high capacity, then energy density increases, but activation potential becomes too high requiring elevated temperature

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidactivation temperature

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The carbon coating acts as a catalytic intermediary that facilitates the activation of alkaline source materials at lower temperatures. By providing a conductive and chemically active interface, the carbon layer reduces the energy barrier for activation, allowing the high-capacity alkaline materials to function at ambient or moderate temperatures rather than requiring elevated temperature processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 carbon-coated alkaline source materials significantly improve the electrochemical performance of batteries by achieving high specific capacity and cyclability, lowering activation potential, and avoiding compatibility issues during cathode preparation.

Implementation Method 1

a process involving carbon coating of alkaline source materials to enhance their chemical and structural stability

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCarbon coating: Deposition (physical)

Implementation Method 2

combined with a catalyst, to form a composite material that can be used as a coating on the cathode or in the electrolyte, reducing activation potential

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 3

inefficiencies in lithium or sodium ion supply during the initial cycle

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon transport: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentUS20230030959A1Electrode and electrolyte additives for high energy lithium-ion batteries

Publication Date: 2023.02.02 UCHICAGO ARGONNE LLC

AI summary

Methods of applying as-prepared alkaline source materials for a secondary battery. The cathode includes an alkaline source material with or without coating including an alkali metal oxide, an alkali metal sulfide, an alkali metal salt, or a combination of any two or more thereof. An as-prepared spread coating layer for a secondary battery, the coating layer includes an alkaline source material, including an alkali metal oxide, an alkali metal sulfide, and an alkali metal salt, with or without coating, a conductive carbon, a catalyst, or a combination of any two or more thereof. An as-prepared electrolyte for a secondary battery, the electrolyte includes an alkaline source material including an alkali metal oxide, an alkali metal sulfide, an alkali metal salt, or a combination of any two or more thereof.