Lithium Halide-Sulfur Composite Powder to Prevent Drying Bumping

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Solution Overview

Problem

The production of lithium halide for sulfide solid electrolytes is hindered by bumping during high-temperature drying, leading to apparatus contamination and reduced productivity, while elemental sulfur poses risks of dust explosions and requires cautious handling.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the heating of a lithium halide aqueous solution in the presence of elemental sulfur to prevent bumping and ensure homogeneous dispersion, thereby producing a composite powder suitable for sulfide solid electrolytes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the lithium halide aqueous solution is heated at a temperature equal to or higher than a boiling point to remove moisture, then the drying efficiency is improved, but bumping occurs causing apparatus contamination and reduced productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrying efficiencyVSAvoidbumping

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Elemental sulfur is introduced as an intermediary substance into the lithium halide aqueous solution during heating. The sulfur acts as a nucleation site for bubble formation, providing controlled pathways for vapor release and preventing violent bumping. This allows the system to maintain high drying efficiency while eliminating the harmful bumping effect that causes apparatus contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention converts the potential harm of uncontrolled vapor release (bumping) into a beneficial controlled vaporization process. By adding elemental sulfur, the violent bumping is transformed into gentle, controlled bubble formation and release, allowing high-temperature drying to proceed without contamination while maintaining high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Ease of manufacture

If elemental sulfur is handled as a powder, then it can be used as a raw material for sulfide solid electrolyte, but dust explosion risks arise requiring cautious handling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveraw material availabilityVSAvoiddust explosion risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges elemental sulfur with lithium halide in a single composite powder formulation. By combining these materials during the drying process, the sulfur is no longer handled as separate powder that could create dust explosions, but rather as an integrated component of the final electrolyte material, eliminating the safety hazard while maintaining manufacturing ease.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite material system where elemental sulfur and lithium halide are combined in a controlled manner during drying. This composite approach allows the sulfur to be incorporated safely without the dust explosion risks associated with handling pure sulfur powder, while still providing the necessary raw materials for sulfide solid electrolyte production.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If lithium halide is dried to be free of moisture, then lithium ion conductivity is improved, but excessive temperature and time are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelithium ion conductivityVSAvoiddrying time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Elemental sulfur serves as an intermediary that facilitates moisture removal at lower temperatures. By providing controlled nucleation sites for vapor formation, the sulfur enables efficient water evaporation without requiring excessive heating, thus achieving the necessary dryness for high lithium ion conductivity in a shorter time period.

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

Prevents bumping during high-temperature drying, maintains apparatus integrity, and enhances productivity by ensuring homogeneous dispersion, while also mitigating dust explosion risks.

Implementation Method 1

heating a lithium halide aqueous solution at a temperature equal to or higher than a boiling point in the presence of elemental sulfur

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBumping prevention through nucleation: Nucleation

Implementation Method 2

heating a lithium halide aqueous solution at a temperature equal to or higher than a boiling point in the presence of elemental sulfur, and removing a solvent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEvaporation: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS20250323316A1Composite powder to be used in source material for sulfide solid electrolyte, method for manufacturing same, and method for manufacturing sulfide solid electrolyte

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 AGC INC

AI summary

A method for producing a composite powder containing a lithium halide and elemental sulfur which is to be used in a raw material for a sulfide solid electrolyte, the method including heating a lithium halide aqueous solution at a temperature equal to or higher than a boiling point in the presence of elemental sulfur, and removing a solvent.