Elastic Polymer Layer for Lithium Metal Battery Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable lithium metal batteries face challenges with lithium metal dendrite formation and electrolyte-lithium reactions, leading to safety concerns and reduced cycle life, due to complex anode or electrolyte structures, high costs, and low lithium ion conductivity, which have not been adequately addressed by previous solutions.
Innovation Solution
A lithium secondary battery design featuring an elastic, ion-conducting polymer layer acting as both a separator and anode-protecting layer, with a high-elasticity polymer network and a liquid electrolyte, providing a multi-functional solution to prevent dendrite formation and electrolyte-lithium reactions, and enhancing lithium ion conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective surface layer or multilayer anode structure is applied to prevent dendrite formation, then lithium ion conductivity and safety are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the separator and anode protective layer into a single integrated elastic polymer layer. This layer simultaneously provides dendrite prevention, ion conduction, and mechanical protection functions, eliminating the need for separate protective coatings or multilayer structures while maintaining safety and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic polymer layer serves multiple functions: it acts as a separator, provides anode protection against dendrites, conducts lithium ions, and offers mechanical flexibility to accommodate volume changes. This multi-functional design simplifies the overall battery structure while maintaining protective capabilities.
2Reliability
If solid polymer electrolyte or vacuum-evaporated thin film is used to stabilize anode, then dendrite formation is prevented, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the polymer from solid/rigid to elastic/gel form by incorporating liquid electrolyte into the polymer matrix. This creates a gel polymer electrolyte that maintains the protective and stabilizing functions while being easier to manufacture through simpler coating and curing processes compared to vacuum evaporation techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite gel polymer electrolyte combining elastic polymer matrix with liquid electrolyte components. This composite structure provides both the stability and protection of solid polymers while enabling simpler manufacturing processes and better ion conductivity compared to pure solid polymers.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If complex multilayer protective coatings are applied, then dendrite penetration is prevented, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a thin film elastic polymer layer that flexes and deforms to prevent dendrite penetration. The elastic nature of this single thin film allows it to adapt to dendrite growth attempts and maintain protective function without requiring complex multilayer structures, thereby simplifying the design while maintaining protection against harmful factors.
4Reliability
If traditional separator and anode protective layer are used separately, then lithium ion transport is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the separator and anode protective layer into a single elastic polymer layer that performs both functions simultaneously. This integrated structure maintains lithium ion transport capabilities while eliminating the complexity of having separate components, reducing the number of interfaces, and simplifying the overall battery architecture.
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 elastic polymer protective layer effectively prevents lithium dendrite formation, ensures stable lithium ion transport, and reduces electrolyte-lithium reactions, resulting in a safer, more efficient, and longer-lasting lithium metal battery with improved energy density.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic, ion-conducting polymer layer acting as both a separator and anode-protecting layer... providing a multi-functional solution to prevent dendrite formation and electrolyte-lithium reactions, and enhancing lithium ion conductivity
Implementation Method 2
A lithium secondary battery design featuring an elastic, ion-conducting polymer layer acting as both a separator and anode-protecting layer, with a high-elasticity polymer network
Data Source
AI summary
A lithium secondary battery comprising a cathode, an anode, and an elastic polymer protective layer disposed between the cathode and the anode, and a working electrolyte, wherein the elastic polymer protective layer comprises a high-elasticity polymer having a thickness from 50 nm to 100 μm, a lithium ion conductivity from 10−8 S/cm to 5×10−2 S/cm at room temperature, and a fully recoverable tensile elastic strain from 2% to 1,000% when measured without any additive or filler dispersed therein and wherein the high-elasticity polymer comprises a crosslinked polymer network of chains derived from at least one multi-functional monomer or oligomer selected from an acrylate, polyether, polyurethane acrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, or di(trimethylolpropane) tetraacrylate, wherein a multi-functional monomer or oligomer comprises at least three reactive functional groups.