Grafted Sulfonamide Polymer Electrolytes for Battery Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lithium and sodium batteries face challenges with safety due to corrosive and flammable liquid electrolytes, dendrite formation, and high costs associated with advanced polymerization techniques, which limit conductivity and stability.
Innovation Solution
Development of new polymers with grafted sulfonamides as electrolytes, specifically using commercially available polymers like PEEK, PEK, PES, and PEKEKK, which are chlorosulfonated and then reacted with amines to create sulfonamide units, facilitating lithium or sodium ion conductivity without the need for toxic catalysts or complex synthesis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid electrolytes based on organic solvent and dissolved salt are used in lithium batteries, then high ionic conductivity is achieved, but safety deteriorates due to corrosive and flammable properties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the electrolyte from liquid phase to solid polymer phase. The solid polymer electrolyte comprises polymer chains with ionic groups that provide ion conduction pathways while maintaining a solid structure, eliminating the safety hazards of liquid electrolytes while preserving ionic conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polymer electrolyte system combining the polymer matrix structure with ionic functional groups (sulfonamides, carboxylic acids, phosphonic acids) grafted onto the polymer chains. This composite approach provides both the mechanical integrity of solid polymers and the ionic conductivity needed for battery operation.
2Reliability
If solid polymer electrolytes are used to improve safety, then handling safety improves, but dendrite formation increases causing short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces localized ionic conduction pathways within the solid polymer matrix through grafted ionic groups. These localized regions provide preferential paths for ion transport, promoting uniform ion distribution and preventing the concentration gradients that lead to dendrite formation, while maintaining the overall solid structure for safety.
3Reliability
If block polymerization technique is used to immobilize anion, then conductivity improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the polymer by introducing various ionic functional groups (sulfonamides, carboxylic acids, phosphonic acids) with different properties. This allows optimization of conductivity while using simpler polymerization techniques, as the ionic groups can be incorporated through post-polymerization modification rather than complex block polymerization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses commercially available polymers as starting materials and performs post-polymerization modification to introduce ionic groups. This preliminary preparation of the polymer backbone followed by functional group introduction simplifies the overall manufacturing process compared to synthesizing block polymers from monomers, reducing both complexity and cost.
4Ease of manufacture
If sulfonation of PEEK is performed to create SPEEK, then electrolyte preparation is simplified, but lithium ion coordination is too strong reducing conductivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the ionic functional group from sulfonate (in SPEEK) to sulfonamide, carboxylic acid, or phosphonic acid groups. These alternative ionic groups provide different coordination strengths with lithium ions, allowing optimization of conductivity while maintaining the simplified preparation approach using commercially available polymers.
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 resulting polymers exhibit high conductivity and mechanical strength, forming film electrolytes with conductivities comparable to the best existing products, suitable for a wide temperature range, and are cost-effective, addressing safety and performance issues in lithium and sodium batteries.
Implementation Method 1
During the electrochemical charging of the battery, the lithium ions pass through the electrolyte which is an ionic conductor
Implementation Method 2
the ionic conductor or electrolyte, which separates the electrodes
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to novel polymers containing grafted sodium or lithium sulphonamides, production methods thereof and uses of same as electrolytes in batteries.