Indigoid Electrode Composition for Low-Temperature Battery Conductivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electrode materials for electrochemical cells, particularly in lithium-ion batteries, face challenges in achieving high capacity and reduced internal resistance, especially at low temperatures, due to limitations in ionic and electronic conductivity.
Innovation Solution
The development of electrode materials incorporating indigoid compounds, such as indigo blue or its derivatives, which act as organic additives, enhancing ionic diffusion and electronic conductivity, and are used in conjunction with inorganic electrochemically active materials like titanates and lithium metal oxides, along with conductive agents and binders, to form electrodes that improve battery performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional electrode materials are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but battery capacity and conductivity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining inorganic electrochemically active materials (such as lithium metal oxides, titanates) with organic indigoid compounds to create a hybrid electrode material. This composite structure enables the electrode to achieve high battery capacity and improved conductivity while managing the complexity through systematic material integration. The indigoid compounds serve multiple functions including enhancing ionic diffusion, improving electronic conductivity, and acting as binders, thereby achieving performance improvement without excessive complexity increase.
2Reliability
If conventional electrode materials are used, then material simplicity is maintained, but ionic and electronic conductivity are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The indigoid compounds function as intermediaries between the inorganic electrochemically active material particles and the electrolyte. These organic compounds improve ionic diffusion by facilitating ion transport at the interface, while simultaneously enhancing electronic conductivity through their inherent organic semiconductor properties. The intermediary role of indigoid compounds resolves the conductivity issue without requiring complete restructuring of the electrode material system.
3Temperature
If conventional electrode materials are used, then low-temperature performance is poor, but maintaining simple material composition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by introducing organic indigoid compounds that modify the physical and chemical parameters of the electrode material system. These compounds change the ionic diffusion coefficients and electronic conductivity parameters, enabling the electrode to maintain reliable performance at low temperatures. The parameter modification approach allows improving low-temperature performance without fundamentally changing the basic electrode structure.
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 use of indigoid compounds in electrode materials results in increased battery capacity and reduced internal resistance, particularly at low temperatures, leading to improved ionic and electronic conductivity, thus enhancing the overall performance of electrochemical cells.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing ionic diffusion and electronic conductivity
Implementation Method 2
enhancing ionic diffusion and electronic conductivity
Implementation Method 3
indigo blue... has been reduced to its colorless and soluble leuco-indigo form (indigo white). This redox property has been more recently studied in electrochemistry.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application describes an electrode material comprising an indigoid compound, i.e. indigo blue or a derivative thereof, for instance, together with particles of an electrochemically active material dispersed in a binder. Processes for the preparation of the electrode material and electrodes containing the material, as well as to the electrochemical cells and their use are also contemplated.