Dry Sulfide Electrolyte Coating for Uniform Solid-State Battery Electrodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solid-state battery cells face reduced performance due to non-uniform interfacial contact between electrode active materials and solid electrolytes, which is exacerbated by the use of organic solvents that introduce impurities and lower ionic conductivity.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a rotating mixer that simultaneously rotates and revolves to coat a sulfide-based solid electrolyte onto the surface of an electrode active material, forming a uniform solid electrolyte layer without the use of solvents, thereby enhancing ionic conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If organic solvent is used to dissolve solid electrolyte completely, then solid electrolyte layer can be formed on electrode active material surface, but the solid electrolyte layer includes large amount of impurities and has low ionic conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the organic solvent from the coating process entirely, extracting the harmful element that causes impurity introduction. Instead of using solvent-based coating methods, the invention employs a dry coating method where solid electrolyte particles are directly deposited onto the electrode active material surface through mechanical mixing and centrifugal force in a rotating mixer, eliminating solvent residues and impurities from the final product
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical dissolution process (using organic solvent to dissolve solid electrolyte) with a mechanical coating process. The rotating mixer uses mechanical rotation and centrifugal force to distribute and deposit solid electrolyte particles uniformly on the electrode surface, substituting chemical methods with mechanical means to achieve coating without introducing chemical impurities
2Manufacturing precision
If solid electrolyte is coated by dissolving in solvent and drying, then solid electrolyte layer is formed on electrode surface, but the coating process is complex and requires multiple steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the drying step from the coating process. By using a dry coating method where solid electrolyte particles are mechanically deposited rather than dissolved and evaporated, the invention eliminates the need for thermal processing and drying equipment, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while still achieving uniform layer formation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the mixing and coating operations into a single integrated process step. The rotating mixer simultaneously performs both functions by mechanically distributing solid electrolyte particles and depositing them on the electrode surface in one continuous operation, eliminating the need for separate mixing, coating, and drying steps
3Reliability
If non-uniform interfacial contact between electrode active materials and solid electrolyte, then battery performance is reduced, but achieving uniform contact requires complex coating methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic motion to the coating process through the rotating mixer, which rotates at controlled speeds to create centrifugal force and dynamic particle distribution. This dynamic approach allows solid electrolyte particles to be uniformly dispersed and deposited across the electrode surface through rotational motion, achieving consistent interfacial contact without requiring complex multi-step coating equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls the rotation speed parameter of the mixing device to optimize coating uniformity. By adjusting the rotational velocity, the system achieves the right balance between particle dispersion and deposition, ensuring uniform solid electrolyte layer formation on the electrode surface through simple parameter control rather than complex process design
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
This approach allows for the uniform formation of a high-ionic-conductivity solid electrolyte layer on the electrode active material, improving the charge and discharge characteristics of solid-state battery cells while preventing material breakage and impurity introduction.
Implementation Method 1
A centrifugal acceleration of the rotating mixer generated by the operation of the rotating mixer may be 200 g to 460 g
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method of coating a solid electrolyte of a solid-state battery. The method includes putting an electrode active material and a sulfide-based solid electrolyte into a rotating mixer, operating the rotating mixer to rotate in a first direction while the rotating mixer revolves in a second direction, and coating a surface of the electrode active material with the sulfide-based solid electrolyte in the rotating mixer during the operation of the rotating mixer, to form a solid electrolyte layer on the surface of the electrode active material.