Gel Electrolyte Additives for Lithium Battery Cycle Life
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rechargeable lithium batteries face challenges in improving cycle-life and high-temperature characteristics, particularly in reducing the non-charging region of electrode plates, which affects their capacity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A gel electrolyte composition is developed, including a gel polymer derived from specific monomers, a non-aqueous organic solvent like gamma-butyrolactone, and an additive, which reduces the non-charging region and enhances the mechanical strength and cycle-life characteristics of the battery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a liquid electrolyte is used in rechargeable lithium batteries, then the battery can operate, but the non-charging region of electrode plates increases, reducing capacity and cycle-life characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the electrolyte from liquid to gel form, and modifies the chemical composition by incorporating specific additives (succinic anhydride, glutaric anhydride, or adipic anhydride) at controlled concentrations (0.1-10 wt%). This parameter change transforms the electrolyte's interaction with electrode plates, eliminating the non-charging region while maintaining operational functionality, thereby simultaneously improving both reliability and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite gel electrolyte system by combining gel polymer, non-aqueous organic solvent, lithium salt, and cyclic carboxylic acid anhydride additives. This composite material approach allows the electrolyte to form uniform gel structures that penetrate electrode plates effectively, resolving the contradiction between maintaining battery operation and reducing non-charging regions for improved capacity and cycle-life
2Productivity
If conventional gel electrolyte compositions are used, then the battery structure is stable, but the non-charging region is not reduced and capacity characteristics remain limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cyclic carboxylic acid anhydride additives at specific local concentrations (0.1-10 wt% of total electrolyte weight) within the gel electrolyte matrix. This local quality modification enables the electrolyte to specifically target and eliminate non-charging regions in electrode plates without disrupting the overall stability of the gel electrolyte composition, thereby improving capacity characteristics while maintaining compositional stability
Solution Approach 2:
By adjusting the concentration parameters of cyclic carboxylic acid anhydride additives within the optimized range of 0.1-10 wt%, the patent achieves optimal balance between reducing non-charging regions and maintaining electrolyte composition stability. This parameter optimization allows the gel electrolyte to form uniform structures that enhance capacity characteristics without compromising structural integrity
3Reliability
If the gel electrolyte does not include cyclic carboxylic acid anhydride additives, then the electrolyte composition is simple, but the non-charging region cannot be reduced effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates cyclic carboxylic acid anhydride additives at controlled concentration parameters (0.1-10 wt%) to achieve effective reduction of non-charging regions and improvement of high-temperature characteristics. This controlled addition enhances reliability through specific chemical interactions without requiring complex electrolyte formulations, as the simple cyclic anhydride compounds integrate well with the existing gel electrolyte matrix
Solution Approach 2:
The cyclic carboxylic acid anhydride additives act as intermediary substances that facilitate improved interaction between the gel electrolyte and electrode plates at high temperatures. These additives mediate the formation of uniform gel structures that penetrate electrode pores effectively, enhancing high-temperature reliability without significantly increasing overall system complexity
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 gel electrolyte effectively reduces the non-charging region, improves the capacity and cycle-life characteristics of rechargeable lithium batteries, and enhances initial charging efficiency, which is not achieved with liquid electrolytes.
Implementation Method 1
a gel polymer, a non-aqueous organic solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive
Data Source
AI summary
A gel electrolyte for a rechargeable lithium battery includes a gel polymer including a repeating unit derived from a first monomer represented by A-L-E, a non-aqueous organic solvent, a lithium salt, and an additive. A rechargeable lithium battery includes the gel electrolyte. The additive includes a compound selected from compounds represented bycompounds represented byderivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.