Composite Solid Electrolyte Membrane for Thin, Dendrite-Resistant Batteries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solid electrolyte membranes for solid-state batteries face challenges with low strength and ion conductivity, leading to potential damage and reduced energy density, especially when using polymeric solid electrolytes which can be prone to tearing and lithium dendrite-induced failures.
Innovation Solution
A solid electrolyte membrane is developed using a composite of a porous polymer sheet and a polymer electrolyte material, where the polymer electrolyte material is formed by drying a solvent in a polymer resin added to a solvated lithium salt, and the porous polymer sheet is modified with hydrophilicity and ion channels to enhance ion conductivity and mechanical strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a polymeric solid electrolyte is used to form a thin film electrolyte membrane, then the battery thickness is reduced and energy density is improved, but the mechanical strength is insufficient causing tearing during manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure consisting of a porous polymer sheet combined with a polymer electrolyte material. The porous polymer sheet provides mechanical strength and structural support, while the polymer electrolyte material fills the pores to enable ion conduction. This composite approach allows the electrolyte membrane to be formed as a thin film with sufficient mechanical strength to prevent tearing during manufacture and use.
2Ease of manufacture
If the polymeric solid electrolyte is used in the form of slurry dispersed in a solvent, then the material is easy to process, but pores generated by solvent evaporation function as resistance and reduce ion conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous polymer sheet as the base structure, which provides pre-formed pores with controlled size and distribution. The polymer electrolyte material is then introduced to fill these pores, creating a continuous ion-conducting pathway. This approach eliminates the random pores formed by solvent evaporation from slurry processing, as the pore structure is predetermined by the porous sheet, thereby improving ion conductivity while maintaining ease of manufacture.
3Length of moving object
If a thin film electrolyte membrane is manufactured from polymeric solid electrolyte, then energy density is improved, but the membrane is damaged by lithium dendrite formation causing insulation failure
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of the porous polymer sheet and polymer electrolyte material creates a mechanically robust thin film that can withstand lithium dendrite formation. The porous polymer sheet provides structural reinforcement that prevents membrane rupture when dendrites grow and apply mechanical stress, while the polymer electrolyte material maintains ion conduction pathways. This composite design enables the use of thin film membranes that improve energy density while maintaining insulation reliability against dendrite-induced failures.
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 resulting membrane achieves high ion conductivity and mechanical strength, allowing for the formation of thin films with improved energy density and reduced manufacturing costs, while minimizing the risk of damage from lithium dendrites.
Implementation Method 1
the polymer electrolyte material is formed by drying a solvent in a polymer resin added to a solvated lithium salt
Implementation Method 2
the porous polymer sheet is modified with hydrophilicity and ion channels to enhance ion conductivity
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a solid electrolyte membrane including a polymer electrolyte material and a porous polymer sheet which form a composite with each other in such a manner that the pores of the porous polymer sheet filled with the polymer electrolyte material, and a method for manufacturing the same. Since the porous polymer material and the solid electrolyte material form a composite with each other, it is possible to obtain a solid electrolyte membrane having excellent strength and a small thickness of 50 μm or less, and thus to improve the energy density of a battery.