Coin-Type Secondary Battery Assembly With Solid Electrolyte Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium-ion batteries face challenges due to high costs, environmental concerns, and social issues related to lithium scarcity, explosion risks, and disposal problems, necessitating a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative for large-scale energy storage systems.

Innovation Solution

A coin-type secondary battery design featuring an anode and cathode with solid electrolytes, an ion-containing solution of sodium, lithium, and magnesium, and a seawater-based cathode part, which allows for easy charging and discharging while preventing short-circuits and facilitating assembly and testing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If lithium-ion batteries are used for large-scale energy storage, then high energy storage capacity is achieved, but high costs and environmental problems occur due to lithium scarcity and disposal issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the battery by replacing lithium-based electrolytes with sodium-based electrolytes and using sodium metal as the anode material. This substitution maintains the electrochemical energy storage function while using abundant, inexpensive materials, directly addressing the high cost issue of lithium-ion batteries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs sodium metal as the anode material, which is significantly cheaper than lithium. Although sodium metal requires careful handling, its low cost and abundance make it an economically viable alternative for large-scale energy storage systems where long battery life can be achieved through proper system design and operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Quantity of substance

If lithium-ion batteries are deployed at large scale, then energy storage demand is met, but social objections arise due to misidentification with nuclear facilities and environmental concerns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy storage scaleVSAvoidsocial objection
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the material composition parameters of the battery system by eliminating lithium and using sodium-based chemistry. This creates a visually and chemically distinct battery type that can be clearly differentiated from nuclear facilities, reducing public misunderstanding and social opposition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of using common materials like sodium (which can react with water) into a benefit by designing a sealed system that prevents contact between sodium and moisture. This approach not only solves the safety issue but also allows the use of abundant, inexpensive materials that are environmentally friendly and free from the stigma associated with nuclear materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If solid electrolytes are used in the anode part, then safety and stability are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to precise bonding requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery safetyVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the battery into distinct functional modules: a sealed anode compartment containing the sodium metal and solid electrolyte, and a cathode compartment containing the energy storage material. This segmentation allows the complex solid electrolyte bonding to be confined to a small, controlled area while maintaining overall system simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solid electrolyte is pre-bonded to the anode current collector in a controlled manufacturing process before final battery assembly. This preliminary action ensures precise bonding under optimal conditions and simplifies the final assembly process, reducing the complexity burden on the manufacturing line.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 enables efficient and cost-effective charging and discharging of the coin-type secondary battery, reduces the risk of explosion, and minimizes environmental impact, making it suitable for large-scale energy storage systems with reduced social objections.

Implementation Method 1

one or more solid electrolytes are bonded to an anode upper case... the one or more solid electrolytes are disposed at the one or more openings in the anode upper case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

the cathode part includes an ion-containing solution containing sodium, lithium, magnesium, and a combination thereof... the ion-containing solution flows into the cathode part from the outside of the second case

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon transfer: Ion Exchange

Implementation Method 3

a secondary battery refers to a battery capable of being charged and discharged through a conversion between chemical energy and electric energy using a material capable of electrochemically reacting with a cathode and an anode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrochemical reaction: Redox Reactions

Data Source

PatentEP3531489B1Apparatus for charging/discharging coin-type secondary battery
Publication Date: 2024.02.07 UNIST (ULSAN NAT INST OF SCI & TECH)
  • EP3531489B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3531489B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3531489B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a coin-type secondary battery and a manufacturing method therefor and, specifically, can provide: a coin-type secondary battery, wherein a solid electrolyte is applied to an anode part, an ion-containing solution comprising sodium, lithium, magnesium and a combination thereof is applied to a cathode part, and the ion-containing solution flows in from the outside of the cathode part; and a manufacturing method therefor.