Crosslinked Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Lithium Metal Dendrite Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium metal batteries face issues with dendrite growth due to side reactions between lithium metal and electrolyte, leading to short circuits and degradation of lifespan characteristics, and existing gel-type polymer electrolytes have high resistance and decompose at high voltage, limiting their effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A lithium metal battery structure incorporating a gel-type polymer electrolyte composed of a liquid electrolyte and crosslinked polymer, formed from a multifunctional crosslinking agent and a (meth)acrylate-based compound with a polyethylene glycol moiety, enhances ionic conductivity and oxidative stability, minimizing dendrite growth and improving battery performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If lithium metal is used as anode active material to increase capacity, then electric capacity is improved, but dendrites form due to side reactions with electrolyte causing short circuits and lifespan degradation
Solution Approach 1:
A gel-type polymer electrolyte is introduced as an intermediary substance between the lithium metal anode and the liquid electrolyte. This gel electrolyte acts as a protective interface that allows lithium ion transport while suppressing dendrite formation and side reactions, thereby maintaining high capacity while improving battery lifespan and reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite gel-type polymer electrolyte combining crosslinked polymer matrix with liquid electrolyte components. This composite structure provides both the mechanical stability needed to suppress dendrites and the ionic conductivity required for high-capacity lithium metal operation, resolving the contradiction between capacity and lifespan
2Reliability
If gel-type polymer electrolyte is used to suppress dendrite growth, then reliability is improved, but resistance increases and oxidation stability decreases at high voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition and crosslinking density parameters of the gel-type polymer electrolyte to optimize its properties. By adjusting these parameters, the electrolyte achieves lower resistance and enhanced oxidation stability at high voltage while maintaining its dendrite suppression capability, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and chemical stability
3Reliability
If carbon-based anode active materials are used to ensure stability, then lifespan characteristics are improved, but electric capacity is limited due to low capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The gel-type polymer electrolyte serves as an intermediary protective layer that enables the use of high-capacity lithium metal anodes while maintaining stability. This intermediary structure allows the system to achieve both high capacity and improved lifespan, resolving the trade-off between using stable but low-capacity carbon-based materials
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 improved electrolyte structure provides lithium metal batteries with enhanced ionic conductivity, high-rate characteristics, and extended lifespan by suppressing dendrite growth and electrolyte decomposition, ensuring stability and safety.
Implementation Method 1
the gel-type polymer electrolyte includes a liquid electrolyte containing an organic solvent and a lithium salt
Implementation Method 2
the crosslinked polymer includes a reaction product of a multifunctional crosslinking agent having three or more functional groups and a (meth)acrylate-based compound having a polyethylene glycol moiety
Implementation Method 3
enhances ionic conductivity and oxidative stability, minimizing dendrite growth and improving battery performance
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided are a lithium metal battery and a method of preparing the same, the lithium metal battery including a cathode, an anode current collector, and a gel-type polymer electrolyte disposed between the cathode and the anode current collector, wherein the gel-type polymer electrolyte includes a crosslinked polymer and a liquid electrolyte containing an organic solvent and a lithium salt, and the crosslinked polymer is a reaction product of a multifunctional crosslinking agent having three or more functional groups and a (meth)acrylate-based compound having a polyethylene glycol moiety.