Low-Acid Lithium Borate Salt Production via Lithium Hydride
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing lithium borate salts for battery electrolytes face challenges such as low space/time yield, high water content, and acid contamination, which affect the cycle stability and safety of lithium batteries.
Innovation Solution
A process involving mixing lithium borate crude salts with lithium hydride in the solid phase or suspended in an aprotic solvent that does not dissolve the lithium borate salt, at elevated temperatures, under vacuum or inert gas, to achieve low-acid and water-free lithium borate salts with minimal reaction and efficient drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If lithium borate salts are produced by conventional methods (aqueous solution evaporation or heterogeneous phase reaction), then the production process can be completed, but the water content in the product remains high (0.4% or above) and acid contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts water and acid contaminants from lithium borate salts by adding drying agents (molecular sieves, magnesium sulfate, or calcium chloride) that selectively bind to and remove water molecules and acid impurities from the reaction mixture, achieving water content below 0.1% and acid content below 10 ppm
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces drying agents as intermediary substances that mediate between the wet lithium borate salt product and the desired dry state. These drying agents absorb water and neutralize acids, transforming the product from a wet, contaminated state to a dry, pure state without requiring extreme drying conditions
2Productivity
If the space/time yield is increased in lithium borate salt production, then productivity improves, but water content and acid contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary purification by adding drying agents during or immediately after the reaction process, before the product is considered complete. This preliminary removal of water and acids prevents contamination from accumulating during high-speed production, enabling both high productivity and high purity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent continuously extracts water and acid contaminants during the production process using drying agents, allowing the reaction to proceed at high speed while simultaneously removing impurities, thus achieving both high space/time yield and high product purity
3Manufacturing precision
If water-free lithium borate salts are produced through extended drying, then purity improves, but production time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses drying agents as intermediaries that rapidly absorb water from the lithium borate salt product, achieving water content below 0.1% within minutes rather than hours or days of extended drying. The drying agents provide a fast water removal mechanism that eliminates time-consuming conventional drying processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/thermal drying systems (which require extended time and energy) with chemical drying agents that rapidly bind water molecules through chemical absorption, dramatically reducing the time required to achieve water-free products
4Manufacturing precision
If conventional drying methods are used to remove water, then water content decreases, but acid contamination remains and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simultaneously extracts both water and acid contaminants using drying agents that perform dual functions: absorbing water molecules and neutralizing acid impurities. This simultaneous removal of both types of contaminants in a single step maintains high productivity while achieving complete purification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs drying agents with multi-functional capabilities that can remove both water and acids through a single addition, eliminating the need for separate drying and acid removal steps. This universal purification approach maintains fast production speed while achieving comprehensive impurity removal
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 process results in lithium borate salts with significantly reduced water and acid content, enhancing the cycle stability and safety of lithium batteries by maintaining the integrity of the protective layer on the anode and cathode materials.
Implementation Method 1
mixing lithium borate crude salts with lithium hydride in the solid phase or suspended in an aprotic solvent... to achieve low-acid and water-free lithium borate salts
Implementation Method 2
mixing lithium borate crude salts with lithium hydride in the solid phase or suspended in an aprotic solvent that does not dissolve the lithium borate salt
Implementation Method 3
stirred together at preferably elevated temperature... to achieve low-acid and water-free lithium borate salts with minimal reaction
Implementation Method 4
under vacuum or inert gas, to achieve low-acid and water-free lithium borate salts
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to mixtures of low-acid lithium borate salts and lithium hydride, to methods for producing the same and to the use thereof for battery electrolytes.