Heat-Resistant Gel Electrolyte for Automotive Windows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gel electrolytes for electrochromic windows lack heat resistance and stability, which is crucial for applications in high-temperature environments such as automobile sunroofs, while maintaining high ionic conductivity and transmittance.
Innovation Solution
A gel electrolyte material comprising a polymer of ethyleneimine, optionally crosslinked with a polyfunctional epoxide crosslinker, a lithium salt, and a high-boiling solvent like DMSO, which enhances ionic conductivity and mechanical stability, ensuring consistent performance across a wide temperature range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional gel electrolytes are used in electrochromic windows, then the device can operate with basic ionic conductivity, but the heat resistance and stability deteriorate in high-temperature environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the chemical composition parameters of the gel electrolyte by incorporating specific polymer matrices (polyethylene oxide, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylidene fluoride) with defined molecular weights and compositions. By adjusting the ratio of polymer to plasticizer and selecting specific lithium salts, the electrolyte achieves enhanced thermal stability while maintaining ionic conductivity across expanded temperature ranges from -40°C to 120°C
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite gel electrolyte system combining multiple polymer components, plasticizers, and lithium salts. The composite structure integrates polyethylene oxide or polyacrylonitrile as the base polymer matrix with additional additives to achieve synergistic effects that improve both heat resistance and ionic conductivity, enabling reliable operation in high-temperature automotive environments
2Reliability
If the gel electrolyte composition is modified to improve heat resistance, then thermal stability improves, but ionic conductivity may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces plasticizers as intermediary substances that mediate between the polymer matrix and lithium ions. These plasticizers reduce the glass transition temperature of the polymer matrix and create additional free volume, facilitating lithium ion transport while the polymer backbone maintains structural integrity and thermal stability. This intermediary role allows the system to achieve both high ionic conductivity and thermal stability simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates regions with different local properties within the gel electrolyte: the polymer matrix provides rigid structural support and thermal stability, while the plasticizer-rich regions provide flexible ion transport pathways. This spatial differentiation of properties allows the material to exhibit both high thermal stability from the polymer framework and high ionic conductivity from the plasticizer-modified regions
3Strength
If polymer crosslinking is increased to improve mechanical stability, then structural integrity improves, but ion transport may be hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial crosslinking rather than complete crosslinking of the polymer matrix. By using controlled amounts of crosslinking agents and limiting the degree of crosslinking, the system achieves sufficient mechanical strength and structural integrity while leaving enough uncrosslinked polymer chains and free volume to maintain effective lithium ion transport pathways. This partial action approach balances structural requirements with ionic conductivity requirements
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 proposed electrolyte material provides high ionic conductivity, maintains high transmittance, and exhibits improved heat resistance, enabling efficient and stable operation of electrochromic windows from 20°C to 120°C, making them suitable for automotive applications.
Implementation Method 1
a polymer of ethyleneimine, optionally at least partially crosslinked
Implementation Method 2
a lithium salt... which enhances ionic conductivity
Implementation Method 3
a high-boiling solvent like DMSO, which enhances ionic conductivity and mechanical stability
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to relates to heat-resistant gel electrolyte materials and their uses, for example, in electrochromic devices such as electrochromic windows. In certain embodiments, the disclosure provides an electrolyte material including a polymer of ethyleneimine, optionally at least partially crosslinked (e.g., with an epoxide crosslinker such as the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A); a lithium salt (e.g., lithium perchlorate); and a high-boiling solvent (e.g., DMSO). The electrolyte materials can be used in electrochromic devices, such as electrochromic windows, e.g., for use as automobile sunroofs