Metal Plating Electrochemical Cell Using Solid Electrolyte
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lithium-ion batteries face limitations in volumetric capacity, cycle life, and safety due to carbon anode limitations, layered-oxide cathode instability, and flammable organic-liquid electrolytes, which hinder the development of high-energy density and safe electrochemical storage cells for large-scale applications like electric vehicles and portable devices.
Innovation Solution
The development of metal plating-based electrochemical storage cells using a solid electrolyte with glass-forming additives and catalytic redox-center-relay materials, allowing alkali metals to plate dendrite-free on anode and cathode current collectors, enhancing energy storage capacity, rate, and cycle life while providing safe and efficient electrical energy storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional lithium-ion batteries use carbon anodes and layered-oxide cathodes with organic-liquid electrolytes, then the batteries can operate with established technology, but they suffer from limited volumetric capacity, reduced cycle life, and safety issues due to dendrite formation and flammability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the electrolyte from liquid to solid, and changes the electrode materials from conventional carbon/layered-oxide to metal plating electrodes. This parameter change eliminates dendrite formation and flammability while enabling higher volumetric capacity through dense metal deposition
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite electrode structures combining metal plating layers with current collectors, and uses composite solid electrolytes with glass-forming additives. These composite materials achieve both high volumetric capacity and improved safety/cycle life
2Productivity
If metal plating is used on current collectors, then energy storage capacity and charge rate are enhanced, but dendrite formation may occur leading to reduced reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrolyte from liquid to solid state, which fundamentally alters the metal deposition mechanism. The solid electrolyte enables uniform metal plating without dendrite formation, achieving both high charge rates and long cycle life simultaneously
3Reliability
If solid electrolytes with glass-forming additives are used, then dendrite-free metal plating is achieved improving safety and cycle life, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the solid electrolyte composition by adding glass-forming additives in controlled amounts. This parameter change simplifies the manufacturing process while achieving dendrite-free operation and extended cycle life
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
These cells achieve high energy storage capacity, fast charge/discharge rates, and long operational lifetimes with improved safety by preventing dendrite formation and utilizing solid electrolytes that enable efficient electrical energy storage with high efficiency and extended cycle life, combining chemical and electrostatic energy storage.
Implementation Method 1
The electrolyte conducts the working ion inside the cell and, as an electronic insulator, enables electrons involved in the reaction to pass through an external circuit
Implementation Method 2
During operation of the electrochemical storage cell, the alkali metal plates dendrite-free from the solid electrolyte onto the alkali metal anode
Implementation Method 3
Also during operation of the electrochemical storage cell, the alkali metal further plates on the cathode current collector
Implementation Method 4
During operation of the electrochemical storage cell, the alkali metal plates dendrite-free from the solid electrolyte onto the alkali metal anode
Implementation Method 5
the battery further includes a catalytic redox-center-relay material, and wherein, during operation of the electrochemical storage cell, the alkali metal is further operable to plate on the cathode current collector with the aid of the catalytic redox-center-relay material
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an electrochemical storage cell including a battery. The battery includes an alkali metal anode having an anode Fermi energy, an electronically insulating, amorphous, dried solid electrolyte able to conduct alkali metal, having the general formula A3-xHxOX, in which 0 ≤ x ≤ 1, A is the alkali metal, and X is at least one halide, and a cathode including a cathode current collector having a cathode Fermi energy lower than the anode Fermi energy. During operation of the electrochemical storage cell, the alkali metal plates dendrite-free from the solid electrolyte onto the alkali metal anode. Also during operation of the electrochemical storage cell, the alkali metal further plates on the cathode current collector.