Porous Inorganic Separator for Nitrile Electrolyte Resistance Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrochemical devices face increased fire and explosion risks as capacity increases, necessitating enhanced heat resistance and safety measures, particularly when using nitrile-based compounds in electrolytes, which can reduce wettability and increase electrical resistance.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a porous separator made of inorganic fibers or particles with a polymer binder and a nitrile-based electrolyte, eliminating polyolefin-based films to enhance wettability, thermal stability, and non-flammability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a polyolefin-based film or hydrophobic polymer film is used as a separator, then the separator provides good mechanical strength and chemical stability, but the wettability to nitrile-based electrolyte is reduced and electrical resistance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparator stabilityVSAvoidelectrical resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The separator is constructed as a composite material combining a polyolefin base layer with a hydrophilic inorganic particle coating layer. This composite structure maintains the mechanical strength and chemical stability of the polyolefin while the hydrophilic inorganic particles (such as alumina, silica, or boehmite) on the surface improve wettability to the nitrile-based electrolyte, thereby reducing electrical resistance without sacrificing separator reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The separator utilizes a porous structure with controlled pore size and distribution. The porous configuration allows efficient electrolyte penetration and ion transport, reducing electrical resistance. The porosity is optimized to balance mechanical integrity with electrolyte accessibility, ensuring both separator stability and low electrical resistance when used with nitrile-based electrolytes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Temperature

If the electrolyte includes a nitrile-based compound, then the thermal stability and nonflammability are improved, but the wettability to conventional separators is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal stabilityVSAvoidwettability reduction

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The separator surface properties are modified by changing the chemical composition of the coating layer. Hydrophilic inorganic particles with specific surface characteristics are applied to the separator surface, altering the surface energy parameters to match those of the nitrile-based electrolyte. This parameter change in surface chemistry enables improved wettability while preserving the thermal stability benefits of the nitrile-based electrolyte

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If the capacity of the electrochemical device is increased, then the energy storage capability is improved, but the risk of fire and explosion increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecapacityVSAvoidfire risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The separator acts as an intermediary safety barrier between the positive and negative electrodes. By using a separator with enhanced thermal stability, improved wettability to nitrile-based electrolyte, and optimized porous structure, the device can safely accommodate higher capacities. The separator prevents direct contact between electrodes under thermal stress conditions, mitigating fire risk while allowing increased energy storage capability through the use of stable nitrile-based electrolytes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 solution provides electrochemical devices with improved wettability, thermal stability, and fire safety while maintaining high capacity and output, using a nitrile-based electrolyte and porous separator.

Implementation Method 1

a porous separator having wettability to the electrolyte

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapillary action: Capillary Action

Implementation Method 2

configured to allow ions to pass between the positive electrode and the negative electrode

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonic conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP4611154A1Electrochemical device including porous separator

Publication Date: 2025.09.03 SK INNOVATION CO LTD

Figure 1~2

AI summary

Electrochemical devices are disclosed for various applications such as secondary batteries. In an embodiment, an electrochemical device includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and an electrolyte. The separator includes a porous separator including inorganic fibers or including inorganic particles and a polymer binder, and the electrolyte includes a nitrile-based compound. The electrochemical device exhibits high ionic conductivity by including the porous separator having wettability to the electrolyte.