Dry Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Non-Flammable Li-Ion Conduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional liquid electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries are flammable and prone to leakage, while solid polymer electrolytes have low lithium-ion conductivity and high interfacial resistance, posing challenges for safe and reliable battery performance, especially in medical applications like cochlear implants where thermal stability and self-extinguishing properties are crucial.
Innovation Solution
A dry gel polymer electrolyte is developed using sulfolane combined with a high molecular weight polymer, such as polyethylene oxide, and a lithium salt, which provides improved lithium-ion conductivity and self-extinguishing properties, addressing the limitations of traditional electrolytes by forming a non-flammable and stable electrolyte with enhanced viscoelastic properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional liquid electrolytes are used, then lithium-ion conductivity is high, but flammability and leakage occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite electrolyte system combining gel polymer matrix with liquid electrolyte components (LiPF6 salt and cyclic carbonic ester). This composite structure provides both the safety advantages of solid polymers and the high ionic conductivity of liquid electrolytes, resolving the contradiction between safety and conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical state of the electrolyte by forming a gel phase through polymer-electrolyte complexation. This parameter change from liquid to gel state eliminates flammability and leakage while maintaining ionic conductivity through the gel network structure.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If solid polymer electrolytes are used, then flammability is eliminated, but lithium-ion conductivity becomes low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite gel polymer electrolyte that integrates solid polymer matrix with liquid electrolyte components. The LiPF6 salt and cyclic carbonic ester within the gel network provide high ionic conductivity while the polymer matrix maintains structural integrity and eliminates flammability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gel phase acts as an intermediary between solid polymer and liquid electrolyte. It provides the structural framework of solids while incorporating liquid electrolyte components that enable high ionic conductivity, mediating between the two extreme states.
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 dry gel polymer electrolyte exhibits lithium-ion conductivities comparable to liquid electrolytes, offering increased reliability and long cycle duration for electrochemical cells, along with self-extinguishing characteristics, making it suitable for medical and other in vivo applications.
Implementation Method 1
a lithium salt complexed with the high molecular weight polymer
Implementation Method 2
a high molecular weight polymer mixed with the sulfolane
Data Source
AI summary
Dry gel polymer electrolytes as well as their methods of manufacture and use in electrochemical cells are disclosed. In some embodiments, a dry gel polymer electrolyte may include sulfolane, a high molecular weight polyethylene oxide, and a lithium salt. In embodiments in which the dry gel polymer electrolyte is included in the electrochemical cell, at least one layer of the dry gel polymer electrolyte may be disposed between an anode and a cathode of the electrochemical cell.