Liquid-Infiltrated Solid-State Electrolyte for High-Loading Li-Ion Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solid-state batteries face limitations such as low ionic conductivity, low energy density, high costs, and safety concerns due to brittle electrolytes and high reactivity with electrodes, leading to challenges in achieving high performance and long cycle life, especially at low temperatures and under extreme conditions.
Innovation Solution
The use of melt-infiltration of solid electrolytes into thermally stable electrodes at elevated temperatures, allowing for a high volume fraction of active material and flexible electrode processing, which enables the formation of thin, stable solid electrolyte membranes and improved interfacial contact for enhanced stability and rate performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If solid electrolytes are used in battery cells, then safety is improved, but energy density and power density deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the electrolyte from solid to liquid, which fundamentally alters the ionic conductivity and energy density characteristics while maintaining safety through the cell design and electrode configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite structure combining liquid electrolyte with porous electrodes and separator layers, creating a hybrid system that achieves both high energy density through liquid electrolyte properties and safety through the porous composite structure design
2Reliability
If solid electrolytes are used in battery cells, then safety is improved, but power density deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrolyte from solid to liquid state, which dramatically improves ionic conductivity and power density while maintaining safety through the overall cell design including porous electrodes and appropriate separator selection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses porous electrode structures that allow efficient ion transport through the electrolyte, enabling high power density while the liquid electrolyte fills the porous network to ensure good contact and ionic conductivity
3Quantity of substance
If liquid electrolyte is used, then energy density is improved, but safety deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs porous electrodes and separators that contain the liquid electrolyte within a structured framework, preventing uncontrolled leakage while maintaining the high energy density benefits of liquid electrolyte through good ionic contact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a separator as an intermediary component between electrodes that manages the liquid electrolyte, providing both ionic conductivity pathways and physical containment to ensure safety while enabling high energy density operation
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
This approach results in solid-state batteries with improved energy density, safety, and cycle stability, while reducing the complexity and cost of fabrication, and enabling operation at low temperatures without significant performance degradation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one of the one or more solid electrolytes or at least one solid electrolyte precursor of the one or more solid electrolytes is infiltrated into the solid state Li or Li-ion battery cell as a liquid
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment is directed to a solid state electrolyte-comprising Li or Li-ion battery cell, comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode with an areal capacity loading that exceeds around 3.5 mAh/cm2, an ionically conductive separator layer that electrically separates the anode and cathode electrodes, and one or more solid electrolytes ionically coupling the anode and the cathode, wherein at least one of the one or more solid electrolytes or at least one solid electrolyte precursor of the one or more solid electrolytes is infiltrated into the solid state Li or Li-ion battery cell as a liquid.