Gel Polymer Electrolyte Battery Room-Temperature Gelation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for preparing gel polymer electrolyte secondary batteries face challenges such as inefficient gelation processes, high manufacturing costs, and reduced stability due to the use of liquid electrolytes and polyethylene membranes with high thermal shrinkage rates, leading to safety and performance issues.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of a non-woven fabric separator with a polymerization initiator coated on the cathode, anode, or battery case, and a gel polymer electrolyte composition containing an electrolyte solvent, electrolyte salt, and polymer electrolyte monomer, which polymerizes at room temperature, eliminating the need for heating or UV radiation and enhancing gelation control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a liquid electrolyte is used in the battery, then the battery performance is improved, but the safety is deteriorated due to electrode deterioration, solvent volatilization, and gas generation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite gel polymer electrolyte consisting of crosslinked polymer chains embedded in a liquid electrolyte matrix. This composite structure combines the high ionic conductivity of liquid electrolytes with the mechanical stability and safety of polymer gels, preventing solvent volatilization and electrode deterioration while maintaining battery performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the electrolyte from liquid to gel by introducing crosslinked polymer networks. This parameter change (from liquid to gel phase) maintains ionic conductivity while eliminating the safety issues associated with liquid electrolytes such as volatilization and gas generation
2Reliability
If a gel polymer electrolyte is used to improve safety, then the electrochemical safety is improved, but the battery performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite gel polymer electrolyte where crosslinked polymer gel structures provide safety while embedded liquid electrolyte components maintain high ionic conductivity. This composite approach resolves the performance degradation issue of conventional gel electrolytes by combining the advantages of both gel and liquid electrolyte systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by having the crosslinked polymer gel structure distributed throughout the liquid electrolyte matrix. The gel structures provide localized safety and stability while the surrounding liquid electrolyte maintains ionic conductivity, achieving both safety and performance simultaneously
3Ease of manufacture
If a polymerizable monomer and polymerization initiator are added to liquid electrolyte for gelation, then the gel polymer electrolyte is formed, but the gelation may occur before introducing into the battery case
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-coating the polymerization initiator onto the separator surface before assembling the battery. This preliminary preparation allows controlled gelation to occur only after battery assembly when the monomer is introduced, preventing premature gelation during the manufacturing process
Solution Approach 2:
The separator acts as an intermediary carrier for the polymerization initiator. By coating the initiator on the separator rather than mixing it with the liquid electrolyte, the patent enables controlled gelation initiation only when the monomer comes into contact with the initiator-coated separator inside the battery
4Ease of manufacture
If heating is applied to maintain temperature for gelation, then the gelation process is improved, but the manufacturing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service gelation by using a polymerization initiator system that can initiate gelation at room temperature without external heating. The initiator-coated separator reacts with the introduced monomer to trigger gelation automatically, eliminating the need for energy-consuming heating equipment and reducing manufacturing time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the gelation temperature parameter from elevated temperatures (requiring heating) to room temperature. By selecting appropriate polymerization initiators that are active at ambient conditions, the patent eliminates heating requirements and reduces manufacturing complexity and time
5Ease of manufacture
If a polyethylene membrane separator is used, then the separation function is provided, but the thermal shrinkage causes short circuit between electrodes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal stability parameter of the separator by coating it with a crosslinked polymer gel layer. This gel coating maintains the separator's dimensional stability at high temperatures, preventing thermal shrinkage and electrode short circuits while preserving the separator's ion conductivity and separation functions
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 results in improved stability, reduced manufacturing costs, and enhanced performance by preventing short circuits and maintaining uniform electrode reactions, while allowing for efficient gelation and improved battery safety.
Implementation Method 1
a gel polymer electrolyte composition including an electrolyte solvent, an electrolyte salt and a polymer electrolyte monomer into the battery case and polymerizing the monomer
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a method of preparing a gel polymer electrolyte secondary battery, and a gel polymer electrolyte secondary battery prepared by the method. The gel polymer electrolyte secondary battery includes a cathode, an anode, a separator and a gel polymer electrolyte in a battery case. The method includes (S1) coating a polymerization initiator on a surface of at least one selected from a group consisting of a cathode, an anode, a separator of a non-woven fabric, and a battery case, the surface needed to be contacted with a gel polymer electrolyte; (S2) putting an electrode assembly including the cathode, the anode, the separator of a non-woven fabric into the battery case; and (S3) forming a gel polymer electrolyte by introducing a gel polymer electrolyte composition including an electrolyte solvent, an electrolyte salt and a polymer electrolyte monomer into the battery case, and polymerizing the monomer.