Ceramic Li-Ion Electrolyte Membranes via Low-Temperature Reactive Sintering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional glass-ceramic processes for forming lithium-ion electrolyte membranes face challenges in achieving hermeticity and conductivity while maintaining economic viability, as they require stable glass formation and are limited by high processing temperatures that lead to volatile species vaporization.
Innovation Solution
A reactive sintering method involving amorphous or low melting temperature reactants combined with refractory oxides at lower temperatures to form dense, hermetic Li-ion conductive ceramic electrolyte membranes, where the reactants are simultaneously reacted and densified, eliminating the need for a stable glass phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional glass-ceramic process is used to form hermetic membranes, then hermeticity is improved, but conductivity and cost are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the processing temperature parameter from conventional high temperatures (required for glass-ceramic processes) to lower temperatures (900-1100°C). This parameter change enables the formation of hermetic LATP membranes with high lithium ion conductivity while avoiding the formation of stable glass phases that limit compositional flexibility and increase costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite starting materials consisting of amorphous or low-melting-point glassy reactants combined with refractory oxide powders (such as TiO2, Nb2O5, Ta2O5). This composite approach allows simultaneous reaction and densification to occur at lower temperatures, producing hermetic membranes with high conductivity without requiring stable glass formation.
2Reliability
If high processing temperatures are used in conventional glass-ceramic process, then hermeticity is improved, but volatile species vaporization increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention reduces the processing temperature parameter from conventional high temperatures to 900-1100°C. This temperature reduction simultaneously achieves hermeticity through reactive sintering while minimizing the vaporization of volatile species such as lithium phosphate, thereby reducing material loss and improving process efficiency.
3Reliability
If stable glass formation is required in conventional process, then hermeticity is improved, but compositional flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental requirement from stable glass formation to reactive sintering of amorphous or low-melting-point reactants. This parameter change in the processing approach eliminates the constraint of stable glass formation, thereby expanding the compositional space available for optimizing lithium ion conductivity and other membrane properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs composite reactant systems combining amorphous glassy materials with refractory oxides. These composites enable hermetic membrane formation through reactive sintering without requiring stable glass phases, providing flexibility in compositional design to optimize conductivity and other performance parameters.
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 method produces membranes with high conductivity and hermeticity at reduced processing temperatures, minimizing volatile species loss and expanding the compositional space for optimization, resulting in a more reproducible and cost-effective process.
Implementation Method 1
A reactive sintering method involving amorphous or low melting temperature reactants combined with refractory oxides at lower temperatures to form dense, hermetic Li-ion conductive ceramic electrolyte membranes, where the reactants are simultaneously reacted and densified
Data Source
AI summary
Solid lithium-ion ceramic electrolyte membranes have an average thickness of less than 200 micrometers. A constituent electrolyte material has an average grain size of less than 10 micrometers. The solid lithium-ion ceramic electrolyte is free-standing. Alternatively, solid lithium-ion electrolyte membranes have a composition represented by Li1+x−yMxM′2−x−yM″y(PO4)3, where M is a 3+ ion, M′ is a 4+ ion, M″ is a 5+ ion, 0≤x≤2 and 0≤y≤2.