Lithium Battery Electrolyte with Silanes for Dendrite Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium metal anodes in batteries face challenges due to dendritic lithium growth, leading to internal shorts and reduced cycling efficiency, and conventional organic electrolytes form passivation layers that accelerate electrolyte degradation.
Innovation Solution
A battery electrolyte comprising organic solvents and silanes or siloxanes, including polysiloxanes, tetrasiloxanes, trisiloxanes, or disiloxanes, with organoborate salts, which stabilizes the passivation layer and enhances ionic conductivity, preventing dendrite formation and improving cycling performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional organic electrolytes are used with lithium metal anodes, then high energy density is achieved, but dendritic lithium growth occurs leading to internal shorts and reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a passivation layer as an intermediary between the lithium metal anode and the organic electrolyte. This layer, formed by compounds such as lithium fluoride, lithium oxide, or lithium hydroxide, acts as a protective barrier that prevents direct contact between the highly reactive lithium metal and the organic electrolyte, thereby preventing dendrite formation and internal shorts while allowing ionic conduction to proceed.
2Use of energy by moving object
If conventional organic electrolytes are used with lithium metal anodes, then high energy density is achieved, but passivation layers accelerate electrolyte degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of passivation layer formation into a beneficial outcome. By intentionally forming a stable, compact passivation layer using specific compounds (lithium fluoride, lithium oxide, lithium hydroxide), the patent transforms what was previously a degradation mechanism into a protective feature that enhances cycling stability and prevents electrolyte decomposition over time.
3Reliability
If dendritic lithium growth is prevented, then reliability is improved, but this requires additional protective mechanisms increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the electrolyte system by introducing specific compounds (lithium fluoride, lithium oxide, lithium hydroxide) at controlled concentrations (0.1-10 mM). This parameter change fundamentally alters the surface chemistry at the lithium anode interface, promoting the formation of a stable passivation layer that prevents dendrite growth without requiring complex structural modifications to the battery design.
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 electrolyte solution provides a compact and homogeneous passivation layer, reducing dendrite growth and enhancing the cycling performance and energy density of lithium metal anodes, while maintaining high ionic conductivity suitable for high-energy and long-cycle-life batteries.
Implementation Method 1
The electrolyte includes one or more salts in a solvent. The solvent includes one or more organic solvents and one or more components selected from a group consisting of silanes and siloxanes... provides a compact and homogeneous passivation layer
Implementation Method 2
enhances ionic conductivity... maintaining high ionic conductivity suitable for high-energy and long-cycle-life batteries
Data Source
AI summary
The battery includes an electrolyte activating one or more cathodes and one or more anodes. The electrolyte includes one or more salts in a solvent. The solvent includes one or more organic solvents and one or more silanes and/or one or more siloxanes.