Electrolytic Doping of Non-Electrolyte Battery Layers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing battery systems, such as thin-film lithium and lithium-ion batteries, face issues with low energy storage capacity and safety due to material deposition limitations and sensitivity to contamination, leading to capacity reduction and capacity fade caused by ionic species redistribution in electrolyte and current collector layers, resulting in mechanical issues and degraded performance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating ionic liquid and electrolyte salt at saturation concentrations in cathode, anode, and current collector layers, along with transport-enhancing additives, to stabilize ionic conductivity and prevent redistribution, thereby maintaining performance and mechanical stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ionic liquid and electrolyte salt are incorporated at saturation concentrations in cathode, anode, and current collector layers, then ionic conductivity is enhanced and redistribution is prevented, but device complexity increases due to multiple material components and processing steps

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveionic conductivity stabilityVSAvoidmaterial composition complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-doping the cathode, anode, and current collector layers with ionic liquid and electrolyte salt at saturation concentrations before battery assembly. This pre-doping ensures that the materials are pre-saturated with ionic species, preventing subsequent redistribution and maintaining stable ionic conductivity throughout the battery's operational life, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity through advance preparation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Duration of action of stationary object

If transport-enhancing additives are incorporated to prevent ionic species redistribution, then capacity fade is prevented and performance is maintained, but manufacturing precision requirements increase due to controlled additive incorporation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebattery operational lifetimeVSAvoidadditive concentration control

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs parameter changes by optimizing the concentration of transport-enhancing additives in the cathode, anode, and current collector layers to saturation levels. This specific parameter adjustment (achieving saturation concentration) maximizes the prevention of ionic species redistribution and capacity fade, while the standardized saturation approach actually simplifies manufacturing precision requirements compared to arbitrary concentration specifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If multiple layers are doped with ionic liquid and electrolyte salt to stabilize ionic conductivity, then energy storage capacity is improved, but loss of substance increases during doping and processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidmaterial loss during processing

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies merging by combining the doping of multiple layers (cathode, anode, and current collector) with ionic liquid and electrolyte salt into a unified processing approach. By saturating all layers simultaneously with the same ionic species, the system achieves synergistic stabilization of ionic conductivity across interfaces, maximizing energy storage capacity while minimizing material loss through coordinated processing rather than separate sequential doping steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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 enhances ionic conductivity, prevents capacity fade, and maintains mechanical integrity by suppressing the redistribution of ionic species, leading to improved energy storage capacity and safety in battery systems.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonic conductivity stabilization:

Implementation Method 2

The electrolyte layer comprises a polymer, a first electrolyte salt, and the ionic liquid

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonic conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS11271207B2Electrolytic doping of non-electrolyte layers in printed batteries

Publication Date: 2022.03.08 CCL LABEL INC

AI summary

An electrical or electrochemical cell, c a cathode layer, an electrolyte layer, and an anode layer is disclosed. The cathode layer includes a first material providing a cathodic electric transport, charge storage or redox function. The electrolyte layer includes a polymer, a first electrolyte salt, and/or an ionic liquid. The anode layer includes a second material providing an anodic electric transport, charge storage or redox function. At least one of the cathode and anode layers includes the ionic liquid, a second electrolyte salt, and/or a transport-enhancing additive.