Gel Electrolyte for Battery Safety and Conductivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrochemical battery cells with liquid electrolytes face safety hazards due to leakage and volatility, as well as internal resistance issues that affect current carrying capacity and operational safety, while solid polymer electrolytes offer improved safety but compromise electrical power.
Innovation Solution
A gel electrolyte system is developed using a fluorosulphinate anion and a conductive salt like lithium tetrachloroaluminate, where sulphur dioxide is incorporated to form a network-like structure, reducing volatility and maintaining low internal resistance, thereby enhancing safety and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a liquid electrolyte is used, then electrical conductivity and current carrying capacity are improved, but safety deteriorates due to leakage and volatility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite electrolyte system combining sulphur dioxide (liquid component providing ionic conductivity) with a fluorosulphinate salt (solid component forming gel network structure). This composite approach maintains the electrical conductivity benefits of liquid electrolytes while the gel network provides safety by preventing leakage and reducing volatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the electrolyte from purely liquid to a gel state by incorporating fluorosulphinate salts. This parameter change transforms the electrolyte's flow properties while maintaining ionic conductivity, thereby improving safety without sacrificing electrical performance.
2Reliability
If a solid polymer electrolyte is used, then safety is improved by preventing leakage, but electrical conductivity and power deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite gel electrolyte that combines the safety advantages of solid polymer electrolytes (leakage prevention) with the high electrical conductivity of liquid electrolytes by incorporating sulphur dioxide as the conductive medium within the gel network structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition concept by forming a gel state from the liquid electrolyte components. The gel represents an intermediate phase between liquid and solid, providing the structural stability of solids while maintaining the ionic mobility characteristics of liquids.
3Power
If sulphur dioxide is used as electrolyte, then ionic mobility is improved, but volatility and harmful emissions worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines sulphur dioxide with fluorosulphinate salts to form a gel electrolyte. The gel network structure traps the sulphur dioxide molecules, significantly reducing their volatility and harmful emissions while preserving the ionic conductivity necessary for battery operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluorosulphinate salt acts as an intermediary that binds sulphur dioxide molecules within the gel network. This intermediary structure allows sulphur dioxide to maintain its ionic conductivity function while its harmful volatile properties are suppressed by the gel matrix.
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 maintains high electrical conductivity and safety by binding sulphur dioxide, reducing overcharging reactions and allowing higher cell voltages, with adjustable properties for varying applications, and is processable for efficient battery cell production.
Implementation Method 1
A gel electrolyte system is developed using a fluorosulphinate anion and a conductive salt like lithium tetrachloroaluminate, where sulphur dioxide is incorporated to form a network-like structure
Implementation Method 2
At least one ion of the conductive salt (the anion or the cation) is movable in the electrolyte in the sense that the transport of the charge between the electrodes, which is essential for the function of the cell, can take place due to ionic conduction
Implementation Method 3
the transport of the charge between the electrodes, which is essential for the function of the cell, can take place due to ionic conduction
Data Source
AI summary
Electrolyte for an electrochemical battery cell that contains sulphur dioxide and a conductive salt. The electrolyte is a gel that is formed with to the involvement of a fluorosulphinate. The invention is also directed to a battery cell that contains such an electrolyte.