Low-Voltage Microbattery Solid Electrolyte Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional lithium ion batteries are inefficient for low-voltage applications and challenging to miniaturize due to their liquid electrolyte design, which limits their scalability and compatibility with small electronic devices.
Innovation Solution
The development of low-voltage rechargeable microbatteries using a solid electrolyte and lithium intercalated materials, with electrolyte particles intermixed with electrode particles to enhance ion conductivity, allowing for miniaturization and efficient operation at less than 1 volt.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional liquid electrolyte design is used in lithium ion batteries, then high voltage operation (above 3V) is achieved, but scalability to micro-scale and low-voltage operation (below 1V) is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of electrolyte state from liquid to solid, enabling the battery to operate at low voltages (below 1V) and be scaled to micro dimensions. This parameter change allows the battery to adapt to low-voltage applications while maintaining structural integrity at micro-scale, resolving the contradiction between voltage adaptability and design complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by intermixing solid electrolyte particles with electrode particles to form a composite structure. This composite approach enables both low-voltage operation and micro-scale fabrication, as the solid electrolyte provides structural stability while the composite nature facilitates ion transport at reduced voltages, thus adapting to diverse voltage requirements without excessive design complexity.
2Volume of moving object
If conventional liquid electrolyte design is used, then high voltage performance is maintained, but miniaturization and scaling capabilities are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs solid electrolyte layers that can be fabricated as thin films suitable for micro-scale devices. This approach enables miniaturization of the battery volume while maintaining manufacturability through conventional thin-film deposition techniques, directly addressing the contradiction between reducing battery size and preserving ease of manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the electrolyte from liquid to solid state, the patent enables the battery to be manufactured at micro-scale dimensions. Solid electrolytes can be processed using techniques like screen printing, sputtering, or sol-gel methods that are well-suited for miniaturization, thus reducing battery volume while improving manufacturing scalability to micro-devices.
3Reliability
If solid electrolyte is used with intermixed particles, then ion conductivity is enhanced for low-voltage operation, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite material by intermixing solid electrolyte particles with electrode particles. This composite structure enhances ion conductivity within the electrode, ensuring reliable low-voltage operation. The composite approach naturally accommodates particle distribution variations, reducing the impact of manufacturing precision limitations while maintaining high ion conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermixed solid electrolyte particles create a porous or interconnected network within the electrode structure. This porous configuration provides multiple pathways for ion transport, enhancing overall ion conductivity. The porous structure is tolerant to manufacturing variations, as the interconnected pathways ensure reliable ion transport even with moderate particle distribution control, thus improving reliability without excessively increasing manufacturing precision requirements.
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 enables the creation of scalable, efficient, and rechargeable microbatteries suitable for small electronic devices, offering improved cycling performance and compatibility with renewable energy sources like photovoltaics.
Implementation Method 1
forming a solid electrolyte on the cathode
Implementation Method 2
the cathode includes a lithium intercalated material
Data Source
AI summary
Low-voltage rechargeable microbatteries are provided. In one aspect, a method of forming a microbattery includes: forming a cathode on a substrate, wherein the cathode includes a lithium intercalated material; forming a solid electrolyte on the cathode; forming an anode on the solid electrolyte; and forming a negative contact on the anode. A microbattery is also provided.