Copper-Substituted Sodium Cathode Material for Battery Cost Reduction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lithium-ion batteries face limitations due to the scarcity and high cost of lithium, as well as environmental concerns associated with lithium extraction, necessitating the development of alternative battery materials.

Innovation Solution

A compound comprising sodium or a combination of sodium and lithium, copper, a transition metal, and oxygen, with specific chemical formulas and lattice structures, is used as a cathode material in sodium-ion or lithium-ion batteries, enhancing performance and reducing environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional lithium-ion batteries are used, then high energy density and established technology are achieved, but high cost and environmental damage occur due to lithium scarcity and extraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery performanceVSAvoidenvironmental damage and cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the cathode material by substituting lithium with sodium and incorporating copper along with transition metals (Mn, Ni, Fe, Co, Zn, Cr, V, Ti, Mo, W) in specific ratios. This parameter change enables the battery to achieve comparable performance to lithium-ion batteries while using abundant, environmentally friendly materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite cathode material with the general formula NayCuxM1-xO2 or LiaNabCuxM1-xO2, combining multiple elements (sodium/lithium, copper, transition metals, and oxygen) in a layered structure. This composite approach leverages the beneficial properties of each element: sodium/lithium for ion conduction, copper for electronic conductivity and structural stability, transition metals for redox reactions, and oxygen for lattice stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If lithium is used as the main ingredient in cathode, then established battery performance is achieved, but high cost and resource scarcity occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery performanceVSAvoidlithium availability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts lithium from the cathode composition and replaces it with sodium as the primary alkali metal. The copper-substituted sodium-based cathode material (NayCuxM1-xO2) maintains functional performance while eliminating dependence on scarce lithium resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes expensive lithium with abundant, inexpensive sodium. Although sodium-ion batteries were previously considered to have lower performance, the copper-substituted cathode material developed in this patent achieves comparable performance to lithium-ion batteries, making sodium a viable long-term alternative.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Productivity

If lithium extraction is performed to obtain battery materials, then battery production is enabled, but environmental harm and ecosystem damage occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery productionVSAvoidenvironmental harm

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the environmentally harmful element (lithium) from the battery composition and replaces it with sodium, which can be obtained from abundant sources like seawater and salt mines through less environmentally damaging processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adopts sodium as a replacement for lithium, enabling battery production using materials that are more environmentally friendly to extract and process, thereby reducing ecological impact while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Reliability

If copper substitution is increased in the cathode material, then cycling stability and capacity retention are improved, but optimal structural balance becomes difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecycling stabilityVSAvoidcompositional optimization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically varies the copper substitution parameter (x) in the formula NayCuxM1-xO2 and the sodium content (y) to optimize performance. The patent identifies optimal ranges: 0.02 ≤ x ≤ 0.30 for copper content and 0.6 ≤ y ≤ 0.75 for sodium content, balancing cycling stability, capacity retention, and structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies copper substitution locally within the cathode structure, replacing transition metal elements at specific sites in the layered oxide structure. This localized substitution provides structural stability and electronic conductivity benefits without completely altering the overall material composition or crystal structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10910645B2Copper substituted compound, cathode of battery comprising same, and battery comprising such cathode

Publication Date: 2021.02.02 CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

AI summary

There is provided a compound for use as material in cathode of a battery. The compound has i) at least sodium or ii) sodium and lithium as a first ingredient, copper as a second ingredient, at least a first transition metal in a third ingredient (M) selected from a group including manganese, nickel, iron, copper, zinc, chromium, vanadium, titanium, molybdenum and tungsten, niobium; and oxygen as a fourth ingredient; and wherein the compound has a chemical formula of NayCuxM1-xO2, or LiaNabCuxM1-xO2.