Fluorinated Coal Electrodes for Battery Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high costs and disruptive elements in coal render it impractical for use as a carbon source in commercial applications, including electrical systems, despite its abundance and potential for improving lithium battery performance.
Innovation Solution
Fluorinated coal particles with a specific carbon-to-fluorine ratio, optionally surface defluorinated, are used to form electrodes in lithium or sodium-based battery systems, combined with manganese dioxide and silver vanadium oxide, and processed through grinding, filtering, heat treating, and fluorination, with the option of solvothermal treatment for surface defluorination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If coal is used as a carbon source for electrodes, then cost is reduced and abundance is improved, but impurity elements (sulphur, nitrogen, oxygen, hydrogen) disrupt performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by fluorinating the coal particles to achieve a specific carbon-to-fluorine ratio (between 0.3 and 1.4 to 1), which transforms the chemical properties of the coal particles. This fluorination process modifies the material parameters to eliminate the harmful effects of impurity elements while retaining the cost advantage of using coal as a carbon source.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful impurity elements in coal into beneficial properties through fluorination. The process transforms the problematic sulphur, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen content into fluorinated structures that enhance electrode performance, effectively turning the coal's disadvantages into advantages.
2Productivity
If fluorinated carbon particles are used to improve lithium battery performance, then discharge rate and capacity are enhanced, but manufacturing cost becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive fluorinated carbon particles with fluorinated coal particles, which achieve the same performance benefits at a fraction of the cost. Coal is an abundant, inexpensive resource that can be processed into fluorinated particles with comparable electrochemical properties to synthetic fluorinated carbon.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the source material parameter from synthetic carbon to coal, and applies fluorination treatment to achieve the desired carbon-to-fluorine ratio. This parameter change in material selection combined with chemical treatment maintains the high discharge rate and capacity while dramatically reducing manufacturing cost.
3Reliability
If coal particles are purified to remove impurity elements, then performance in electrical systems is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of removing impurity elements through costly purification, the patent uses fluorination to transform these impurities into beneficial fluorinated structures. The sulphur, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen that would normally be removed are converted into part of the functional fluorinated carbon structure, eliminating the need for expensive purification while improving performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from physical/chemical removal of impurities to chemical transformation through fluorination. By adjusting the fluorination parameters to achieve the optimal carbon-to-fluorine ratio, the impurity elements are converted into performance-enhancing features rather than being removed as waste.
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 use of fluorinated and surface defluorinated coal particles in electrodes enhances discharge rate and capacity, providing high-energy density, long storage life, and improved safety in lithium or sodium-based batteries, while overcoming cost and impurity issues, and achieving superior performance compared to individual components.
Implementation Method 1
The coal particles include fluorinated carbon that is fluorinated at a ratio of between about 0.3 and 1.4 to 1 carbon
Implementation Method 2
heat treating and fluorinating
Data Source
AI summary
An electrode including fluorinated and surface defluorinated coal is described, as well as methods of producing such and employing such within an electrical system. The coal in the electrodes is fluorinated at an amount of between 0.3 and 1.4. The resulting coal products can be further surface defluorinated and maintain functionality within an electrical system.