Lithium Battery Electrolyte Solvent Ratio for Low-Temperature Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium secondary batteries face challenges with low-temperature performance due to poor solubility of lithium salts in organic solvents and viscosity-related conductivity issues, leading to deteriorated operational characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A lithium secondary battery design utilizing a specific composition of cyclic and linear carbonate esters as solvents, along with a compound like vinylene carbonate, in a controlled ratio, combined with optimized cathode and anode porosity, to create an electrolyte solution with high ion conductivity and safety features such as non-inflammability at room temperature.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If cyclic carbonate ester solvents are used, then solubility for lithium salts is improved, but viscosity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesolubility for lithium saltsVSAvoidviscosity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines cyclic carbonate ester (high solubility) with linear carbonate ester (low viscosity) in a specific ratio to create an electrolyte solution that achieves both high lithium salt solubility and low viscosity, resolving the contradiction between these two properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The electrolyte solution uses a composite solvent system comprising multiple carbonate esters with different molecular structures and properties, where each component contributes specific characteristics to achieve overall optimal performance in both solubility and viscosity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Force

If linear carbonate ester solvents are used, then viscosity is reduced, but solubility for lithium salts deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveviscosityVSAvoidsolubility for lithium salts
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges linear carbonate ester (low viscosity) with cyclic carbonate ester (high solubility) in optimized proportions to simultaneously achieve low viscosity and high lithium salt solubility, resolving this contradiction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The composite solvent system integrates linear and cyclic carbonate esters where the linear component controls viscosity while the cyclic component ensures adequate lithium salt solubility, balancing both properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 maintains output characteristics across temperatures, enhances safety, and improves low-temperature performance, making it suitable for hybrid electric vehicles and other applications.

Implementation Method 1

an electrolyte solution which comprises as solvents: a cyclic carbonate... a linear carbonate... and a compound...

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

Cyclic carbonate ester solvents have a high viscosity, although they have a high solubility for lithium salts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolubility: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP2320512B1Lithium secondary battery
Publication Date: 2012.09.12 VEHICLE ENERGY JAPAN INC
  • EP2320512B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2320512B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2320512B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The present invention provides a lithium secondary battery which has improved safety, mainly coming from use of an electrolyte solution which is not inflammable at room temperature (20°C), while not deteriorating output characteristics at low temperatures and room temperature or output maintenance characteristics after storage at high temperature (50°C). The lithium secondary battery of the present invention, encased in a container, is provided with a cathode and an anode, both capable of storing/releasing lithium ions, a separator which separates these electrodes from each other, and an electrolyte solution containing ethylene carbonate (EC), dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) as solvents, the DMC/EMC ratio by volume being 0.6 to 1.3.