Flexible Electrode Structure With Water-Based Ion Channels
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wearable electronic devices face challenges in safety, non-toxicity, and environmental impact due to the use of traditional energy storage elements, which require improved electrodes with lower energy consumption and reduced environmental harm.
Innovation Solution
A flexible electrode is developed using an inorganic hard material phase with silicate lamellar blocks and an organic soft matrix, where the silicate lamellar blocks are aggregated to form an open-perforated structure embedded in the organic phase, and a water-soluble, ionically conductive binder is used, eliminating the need for organic solvents and enhancing mechanical strength and conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional organic solvents are used in electrode fabrication, then processing flexibility is improved, but safety and non-toxicity deteriorate due to organic solvent residues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of solvent type from organic to water-based. The fabrication process uses water as the sole solvent instead of traditional organic solvents, eliminating toxic residues while maintaining processing flexibility. The water-soluble binder and aqueous suspension method enable the same fabrication operations without organic chemicals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a water-based system that can be easily disposed of without environmental harm. Water as a solvent is inexpensive and environmentally benign, allowing for simplified waste handling and disposal processes compared to organic solvents that require special treatment.
2Strength
If inorganic materials are used to enhance mechanical strength, then strength is improved, but flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite electrode structure combining inorganic silicate lamellar blocks with an organic polymer matrix. The silicate blocks (such as montmorillonite) provide mechanical strength and structural stability, while the organic polymer binder maintains flexibility and processability. This composite approach allows both materials to contribute their advantageous properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The inorganic silicate lamellar blocks are distributed locally within the organic matrix rather than forming a continuous rigid structure. This local distribution allows the inorganic phases to provide strength where needed while the organic matrix maintains overall flexibility and conformability.
3Strength
If inorganic hard material phase is aggregated to form support structure, then mechanical strength is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The silicate lamellar blocks self-assemble into an open-perforated floor-ramp support structure through their inherent layering properties and aggregation behavior in aqueous suspension. This self-organizing capability eliminates the need for energy-intensive external structuring processes, as the structure forms spontaneously during fabrication.
Solution Approach 2:
The open-perforated floor-ramp structure creates a porous architecture that provides mechanical strength while allowing efficient ion transport. The porous design reduces material density and enables lighter electrode construction, indirectly reducing energy consumption during device operation.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If water-soluble binder is used, then non-toxicity is improved, but conductivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The water-soluble binder serves as an intermediary that connects the inorganic silicate blocks and conductive polymer particles. While the binder itself is water-based and non-toxic, it facilitates the formation of continuous conductive pathways through the electrode structure, enabling efficient charge transport without requiring toxic organic additives.
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 solution provides a non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and energy-efficient flexible electrode with improved mechanical strength and omnidirectional conductivity, suitable for wearable electronic devices, while minimizing environmental harm and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of silicate lamellar blocks are aggregated in a dispersing manner to form an open-perforated floor-ramp support structure
Implementation Method 2
the binder is water-soluble and ionically conductive
Implementation Method 3
a first capacitively active material is adsorbed inside at least a part of the silicate lamellae
Implementation Method 4
uniformly dispersing the silicate lamellae in water to form a suspension
Implementation Method 5
applying the mixed solution on a template before drying
Data Source
AI summary
A flexible electrode and a fabrication method therefor are provided. The flexible electrode is formed by mixing organic-soft-matrix with inorganic-hard-material. The inorganic-hard-material is composed of silicate lamellar blocks and electrochemically active materials. Each of the silicate lamellar blocks is formed by multiple stacked nano-scaled sheet-like silicate lamellae. The organic-soft-matrix includes conductive polymer and binder. The binder is water-soluble and ionically conductive. The flexible electrode has a floor-ramp like opened-perforated layer structure formed by hierarchically aggregated inorganic silicate lamellar blocks, and pores of the opened-perforated layer structure are filled with the organic-soft-matrix, so as to form a network channel structure having organic phase and inorganic phase interlaced with each other. The floor-ramp like opened-perforated layer structure composed of aggregated inorganic silicate lamellar blocks contributes to stiffness of the flexible electrode, and the conductive polymer and the binder in the organic-soft-matrix respectively form electron channels and ion channels in the flexible electrode.