Glass Ceramic Solid Electrolyte for Lower-Temperature Sintering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for producing inorganic-based solid electrolytes require high temperatures and long processing times, leading to high energy consumption and limited battery lifetime due to electrode contact loss, while existing glass ceramic electrolytes still require high sintering temperatures and have low ionic conductivity at realistic battery temperatures.
Innovation Solution
A glass ceramic solid electrolyte mixture comprising borate, Li2SO4, and lithium halide is sintered at lower temperatures (600-1000°C) to achieve high ionic conductivity (10−5 to 10−9 S/cm) at room temperature to 100°C, allowing co-sintering with anode and cathode components for an all-ceramic solid state battery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional solid state reaction and sintering methods are used to produce inorganic-based solid electrolytes, then high ionic conductivity can be achieved, but high energy consumption and long processing time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the solid electrolyte by introducing a glassy phase containing B2O3, Li2SiO3, and Li2SO4. This compositional modification enables sintering at lower temperatures (reducing energy consumption) while maintaining high ionic conductivity through the formation of a conductive glassy matrix that facilitates Li-ion transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite solid electrolyte system combining crystalline phases (Li3PO4, Li3BO3, Li2SiO3, Li2SO4) with a glassy phase containing B2O3, Li2SiO3, and Li2SO4. This composite structure leverages the high ionic conductivity of crystalline phases while the glassy phase provides a low-temperature sintering pathway, resolving the contradiction between achieving high conductivity and reducing energy consumption.
2Reliability
If conventional solid state reaction and sintering methods are used to produce inorganic-based solid electrolytes, then high ionic conductivity can be achieved, but long processing time is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the compositional parameters by incorporating glass-forming oxides (B2O3, Li2SiO3, Li2SO4) that enable low-temperature sintering. This parameter change reduces the activation energy for sintering, allowing the material to achieve dense structure and high ionic conductivity at lower temperatures and shorter times, thus resolving the time-conductivity trade-off.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary mixing and characterization of the precursor mixture before sintering, optimizing the composition to contain glass-forming components that will facilitate rapid densification during sintering. This preliminary preparation ensures that the sintering process proceeds efficiently at lower temperatures, reducing overall processing time while achieving the desired conductivity.
3Temperature
If glass ceramic solid electrolytes with SiO2 are synthesized using melt-quenching and heat treatment, then sintering temperature can be reduced, but high temperature heat treatment is still required due to SiO2 melting point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adjusts the compositional parameters by replacing SiO2 with Li2SiO3, which has a lower melting point and enables low-temperature sintering. This parameter change eliminates the need for high-temperature heat treatment while maintaining the glassy phase formation mechanism, thus reducing both temperature and process complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts SiO2 from the glass composition and replaces it with Li2SiO3, which achieves the same glassy phase formation benefit but at lower temperatures. This extraction of the problematic component (SiO2) eliminates the requirement for high-temperature processing equipment and complex heat treatment protocols, simplifying the overall process.
4Reliability
If Li3PO4-based glass ceramic solid electrolytes are sintered, then high ionic conductivity can be achieved, but high sintering temperature is required due to Li3PO4 melting point
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the compositional parameters by replacing Li3PO4 with Li2SiO3 in the glassy phase. Li2SiO3 has a lower melting point and enables sintering at reduced temperatures while maintaining high ionic conductivity through the formation of a conductive glassy matrix, thus resolving the temperature-conductivity contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where Li2SiO3 forms the glassy phase matrix combined with crystalline phases. This composite approach allows sintering at lower temperatures than Li3PO4-based systems while achieving comparable or superior ionic conductivity, as the Li2SiO3 glassy phase provides efficient Li-ion conduction pathways at reduced temperatures.
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 method reduces energy consumption and process complexity by enabling lower temperature sintering, maintaining or improving ionic conductivity and enabling all-ceramic solid state batteries with stable performance across a wide temperature range.
Implementation Method 1
A glass ceramic solid electrolyte mixture comprising borate, Li2SO4, and lithium halide is sintered at lower temperatures (600-1000°C) to achieve high ionic conductivity (10−5 to 10−9 S/cm) at room temperature to 100°C
Data Source
AI summary
A glass ceramic solid electrolyte mixture including glass ceramic solid electrolyte including a ternary glass ceramic of borate, Li2SO4 and a lithium halide. Also, a glass ceramic solid electrolyte obtained from the mixture, a solid state battery including the glass ceramic solid electrolyte, and methods of producing the glass ceramic solid electrolyte and the solid state battery.