Disultone Additive for Lithium Battery SEI Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional organic electrolyte solutions for lithium batteries suffer from poor stability of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer and protection layer at high temperatures, leading to reduced battery life due to irreversible reactions and passivation.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a disultone-based compound as an additive in the organic electrolyte solution, which forms a more stable SEI layer on the anode and protection layer on the cathode, enhancing their durability and thermal stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional additives are used to stabilize the SEI layer and protection layer, then the battery can operate, but the SEI layer and protection layer have poor stability at high temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of SEI layer and protection layerVSAvoidhigh temperature stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a novel sultone-based additive with specific molecular structure parameters (Formula 1) that changes the chemical composition parameters of the SEI layer and protection layer. This additive contains a sultone ring structure with specific substituents that enable formation of stable interfacial layers at high temperatures, resolving the contradiction between operational functionality and thermal stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite interfacial layer by introducing a new additive component (sultone-based compound) that works synergistically with existing electrolyte components. The composite SEI layer and protection layer formed by this additive exhibit enhanced thermal stability compared to conventional single-component additives, achieving both reliability and high-temperature stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If carbonate-based polar or non-aqueous solvent is used in lithium battery, then the battery can function, but side reactions occur between anode/cathode and electrolyte solution during initial charging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery functionalityVSAvoidirreversible reaction using excess charges
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The sultone-based additive performs preliminary action by preferentially reacting with lithium ions during initial charging to form a stable SEI layer on the anode and protection layer on the cathode before the carbonate solvents can undergo harmful side reactions. This preliminary formation process prevents subsequent irreversible reactions and reduces charge loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The additive acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the lithium ions and the carbonate solvents. By forming a stable interfacial layer first, the additive prevents direct harmful interactions between carbonate solvents and electrode surfaces, reducing irreversible reactions while maintaining battery functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If the SEI layer and protection layer have poor stability at high temperatures, then the battery may operate short-term, but the lithium battery life is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery operational capacityVSAvoidlithium battery life
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the interfacial layers by introducing the sultone-based additive, which changes the thermal degradation parameters of the SEI layer and protection layer. This results in layers that maintain structural integrity at high temperatures, extending battery life while preserving operational capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The additive acts as a sacrificial component that is consumed during initial charging to form a stable, long-lasting protective layer. This disposable-like behavior of the additive (forming irreversible stable layers) protects the main battery components, extending overall battery life while maintaining productivity.

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

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 disultone-based additive improves the stability and reversibility of lithium ion intercalation, leading to extended battery life and improved discharge capacity, especially at high temperatures.

Implementation Method 1

Using a carbonate-based polar or non-aqueous solvent in a lithium battery may cause a side reaction between an anode (and/or a cathode) and an electrolyte solution during initial charging, and consequentially lead to an irreversible reaction using excess charges. The irreversible reaction may result in a passivation layer such as a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer on a surface of the anode.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIrreversible reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

The SEI layer may prevent decomposition of the electrolyte and also serve as an ion channel. The higher the stability of the SEI layer and the lower the resistance of the SEI layer, the longer the lithium battery life may be.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon channel conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

The irreversible reaction may also form a protection layer on a surface of the cathode. The protection layer may prevent decomposition of the electrolyte solution and also serve as an ion channel.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectProtective layer formation: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 4

a lithium battery operating at a high driving voltage is incompatible with an aqueous electrolyte solution highly reactive to lithium. For this reason, the lithium battery normally uses an organic electrolyte solution.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIntercalation: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP2851990B1Organic electrolyte solution comprising an additive for a lithium battery, and lithium battery using the same
Publication Date: 2017.08.23 SAMSUNG SDI CO LTD
  • EP2851990B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2851990B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2851990B1 patent drawing

AI summary

An organic electrolytic solution comprising an additive comprising a disultone-based compound represented by Formula 1 below: wherein, in Formula 1, A1, A2, A3, and A4 are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted C1-C5 alkylene group; a carbonyl group; or a sulfinyl group and a lithium battery including the organic electrolytic solution are provided