Composite Electrolyte Membrane for Filling Battery Dead Spaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
All-solid-state batteries face issues with ionically isolated gaps between electrodes and solid electrolyte membranes, leading to increased resistance and reduced battery life due to non-uniform electrode surfaces and dendrite growth, which existing solutions attempt to address by adding liquid electrolytes but result in safety concerns and mechanical degradation.
Innovation Solution
A composite electrolyte membrane with a phase change layer, comprising a porous sheet filled with a filler that changes from a solid to a liquid at elevated temperatures, is introduced, which reduces interfacial resistance and fills dead spaces between the electrode and electrolyte membrane, enhancing ionic conductivity and preventing dendrite growth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid electrolyte is added to all-solid-state battery, then ionic conductivity is improved, but safety deteriorates and mechanical strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the electrolyte from liquid to solid by using a filler material that undergoes phase transition. The solid filler is infiltrated into the porous polymer matrix, transforming the electrolyte's state while maintaining ionic conductivity pathways, thus improving safety without sacrificing ionic transport
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite electrolyte structure combining a porous polymer matrix with solid filler particles. This composite approach allows the polymer to provide mechanical strength and structural integrity while the solid filler provides ionic conductivity, achieving both improved reliability and safety simultaneously
2Reliability
If electrode surface is non-uniform, then dead space increases, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a porous polymer matrix with controlled pore structure that can adapt to surface irregularities. The porous structure allows the electrolyte to conform to non-uniform electrode surfaces, filling dead spaces and improving contact uniformity without requiring complex manufacturing processes to achieve perfect surface flatness
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 composite electrolyte membrane improves battery performance by reducing interfacial resistance, increasing ionic conductivity, and preventing mechanical degradation, while maintaining safety by eliminating the need for liquid electrolytes and reducing dendrite growth.
Implementation Method 1
a filler with which the pores of the porous sheet are filled, wherein the porous sheet includes polymer resin, and the filler exists in a solid state at 26° C. or less and a liquid state at 35° C. or above
Data Source
AI summary
A composite electrolyte membrane according to the present disclosure includes a phase change layer on a surface in contact with an electrode, for example, a positive electrode. The phase change layer includes a filler, and a physically isolated area between the positive electrode and the composite electrolyte membrane, known as a dead space, is filled with the filler that is liquefied by heat resulting from the increased internal temperature of the battery, thereby reducing the interfacial resistance between the electrolyte membrane and the electrode.