Electrode Production via Ionic Liquid Water Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing electrochemical cell electrodes, particularly for battery and fuel cells, face challenges in completely removing water, which can lead to unwanted reactions and SEI formation, requiring laborious and costly drying processes that are time-consuming and inefficient, especially for materials with complex structures like transition metal oxides and carbon-based conductive agents.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the mixing of electrode materials with water-dissolving organic electrolyte solvents and ionic liquids to dissolve and remove water, followed by separation, allowing for the reduction of water content and the retention of solvent residues as interparticle fillers to enhance ionic conductivity and current density distribution, using solvents like lactones and ionic liquids such as bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide anions, and conductive salts like lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laborious drying processes are used to remove water from electrodes, then water content is reduced, but production time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses water-dissolving organic electrolyte solvents and ionic liquids as intermediary substances to extract water from electrode materials. These solvents act as mediators that selectively dissolve and remove water through mixing and separation processes, avoiding the need for time-consuming thermal drying while effectively reducing water content to prevent unwanted reactions and SEI formation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal drying system with a chemical extraction system. Instead of using heat and vacuum to evaporate water, the invention uses chemical solvents to dissolve and remove water through mixing, separation, and filtration processes, significantly reducing processing time while achieving the same water removal effect
2Reliability
If intensive vacuum-drying is applied to finished electrodes, then water content is reduced, but production cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water-dissolving organic electrolyte solvents and ionic liquids as intermediary substances that selectively extract water from electrode materials through mixing and separation. This chemical extraction approach replaces complex vacuum-drying equipment and processes with simpler mixing, separation, and filtration operations, reducing both cost and device complexity while achieving effective water removal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the electrode material by introducing solvent residues that act as interparticle fillers. These residues improve ionic conductivity and current density distribution, transforming the electrode properties to achieve better performance without requiring intensive drying processes
3Reliability
If thermal drying is used on polymer electrolyte-based electrodes, then water is removed, but polymer stability is compromised due to low thermal stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces thermal drying with chemical extraction using water-dissolving organic electrolyte solvents and ionic liquids. This substitution avoids applying heat to thermally sensitive polymer electrolyte-based electrodes, preventing polymer degradation while effectively removing water through solvent mixing and separation processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses water-dissolving organic electrolyte solvents and ionic liquids as intermediary substances to extract water from polymer electrolyte-based electrodes at low temperatures. These solvents selectively dissolve and remove water through mixing and separation without requiring thermal energy, thereby protecting the polymer structure from thermal degradation while achieving effective water removal
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 method allows for the production of electrodes with improved ionic conductivity and current density distribution, reducing unwanted reactions and enhancing cell performance in a simpler, more cost-effective, and time-efficient manner, particularly beneficial for polymer electrolyte cells where thermal drying is ineffective.
Implementation Method 1
an equilibrium can be established via diffusion between the water adsorbed on the at least one electrode material and the water dissolved in the at least one organic electrolyte solvent and/or the at least one ionic liquid
Implementation Method 2
the at least one organic electrolyte solvent and/or the at least one ionic liquid can advantageously dissolve water from the at least one electrode material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for producing an electrode (10) for an electrochemical cell, in particular for a battery cell and/or fuel cell and/or electrolysis cell.To produce electrodes (10) for electrochemical cells, such as battery cells and/or fuel cells and/or electrolysis cells, in a simple and, in particular, comparatively time-efficient and cost-effective manner, which exhibit improved ionic conductivity and/or ionic bonding and/or current density distribution and can thus, in particular, increase the performance of a cell equipped with them, the process involves mixing at least one electrode material (1) and at least one water-soluble organic electrolyte solvent and/or at least one water-soluble ionic liquid (100), and then separating the at least one electrode material (1*) from the at least one organic electrolyte solvent and/or the at least one ionic liquid (100*). An electrode (10) is then formed from the at least one separated electrode material (1*).Furthermore, the invention relates to an electrode (10) produced thereby and to an electrochemical cell equipped therewith.