Composite Membrane Conductive Array for Uniform Lithium-Ion Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium air batteries face challenges in producing an oxygen blocking film with excellent ion conductivity and mechanical strength, as oxide-based solid electrolytes are expensive, difficult to produce in large areas, and have limited shape and fragility.
Innovation Solution
A conductive array comprising ion conductive inorganic particles with specific geometric arrangements and an organic material, where the circumference of the particles is 3.2 times or greater than the width, and the distance between particles is optimized to enhance packing density and ion current density, forming a composite membrane with improved mechanical properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If oxide-based solid electrolytes are used to produce oxygen blocking film, then ion conductivity is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and production difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure consisting of inorganic particles (providing ion conductivity) dispersed in an organic matrix material (providing mechanical strength and flexibility). This composite approach allows the oxygen blocking film to achieve good ion conductivity without relying on expensive and fragile oxide-based solid electrolytes, thereby resolving the contradiction between ion conductivity and ease of manufacture.
2Reliability
If oxide-based solid electrolytes are used to produce oxygen blocking film, then ion conductivity is improved, but mechanical strength and flexibility deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic particles provide ion conductivity while the organic matrix material provides mechanical strength and flexibility. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties, allowing the film to be both ion-conductive and mechanically robust.
Solution Approach 2:
The oxygen blocking film has a porous structure with inorganic particles distributed within the organic matrix, creating pathways for ion transport while maintaining mechanical integrity. The porous structure enables good ion conductivity without requiring dense oxide-based solid electrolytes, thus improving both ion conductivity and mechanical properties.
3Reliability
If inorganic particles are densely packed to enhance ion conductivity, then ion current density uniformity is improved, but particle arrangement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the circumference-to-width ratio of inorganic particles should be 3.2 or greater, and the distance between adjacent particles should be 0% to 20% of the particle width. By controlling these geometric parameters and spacing, the patent achieves uniform ion current density without requiring extremely precise particle arrangement, thus resolving the contradiction between ion current density uniformity and manufacturing precision requirements.
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 results in a composite membrane with enhanced ion conductivity, mechanical strength, and flexibility, suitable for lithium air batteries, enabling uniform ion current density and increased capacity while being lightweight and adaptable to various shapes.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of ion conductive inorganic particles spaced apart from each other
Implementation Method 2
heat-treating the substrate filled with the plurality of ion conductive inorganic particles
Data Source
AI summary
A conductive array, a composite membrane including the conductive array, a lithium battery, and a method of manufacturing the conductive array. The conductive array includes a plurality of ion conductive inorganic particles spaced apart from each other, wherein the circumferences (x) and the width (y) of a top surface of an ion conductive inorganic particle of the plurality of ion conductive inorganic particles in plan view satisfy Inequality (1),x≥3.2y, and Inequality (1)a distance between a first ion conductive inorganic particle of the plurality of ion conductive inorganic particles and an adjacent second ion conductive inorganic particle in a plan view is 0% to about 20% of the width of the surface of the ion conductive inorganic particle.