Microstructured Substrate with Open Cavities for Battery Surface Area
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing microstructured substrates for storing electrical energy, such as all-solid-state batteries, have limited specific surface area and mechanical fragility, which hinders their performance and material deposition efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A microstructured substrate with elongate elementary microstructures having open cavities at the upper end, made from materials like silicon, and a process involving photolithography, etching, and alumina deposition to increase surface area and mechanical stability, while allowing conformal alumina layer formation for insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If microstructures such as trenches, pillars and channels are produced to increase surface area, then the specific surface area increases, but the structures become mechanically fragile
Solution Approach 1:
The substrate is segmented into multiple elongate elementary microstructures with open cavities, where each microstructure acts as an independent structural unit. This segmentation allows the surface area to be increased through multiplication of units while each unit maintains structural integrity through its closed cavity design, resolving the contradiction between surface area expansion and mechanical strength preservation
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite construction where elongate elementary microstructures with open cavities are formed on the substrate, creating a hierarchical composite structure. The combination of the substrate material with the microstructure geometry (elongate shape plus closed cavity) produces a composite system that achieves high specific surface area while maintaining mechanical strength through the structural integrity of the closed cavity design
2Area of stationary object
If conventional microstructuring techniques are used, then surface area increases, but material deposition efficiency remains limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from conventional two-dimensional surface microstructures to three-dimensional elongate elementary microstructures with open cavities. This dimensional evolution creates internal surfaces within the closed cavities that are accessible for material deposition, effectively utilizing the third dimension to multiply the deposition area and improve material deposition efficiency while maintaining high surface area
Solution Approach 2:
The closed cavities within the elongate elementary microstructures create nested internal spaces that can accommodate deposited materials. This nesting structure provides both surface area for deposition and volumetric space for material accumulation, thereby improving material deposition efficiency beyond what conventional surface-only microstructures can achieve
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 substrate significantly increases surface area, enhances material deposition, and improves mechanical strength, leading to improved performance and capacity in devices like all-solid-state batteries.
Implementation Method 1
a step of depositing alumina on the surface of the microstructured substrate
Implementation Method 2
a step of producing by photolithography a repetition of at least one elementary pattern in the photoresist layer
Implementation Method 3
a step of etching the zones of the surface of the substrate exempt from photoresist
Data Source
AI summary
A microstructured substrate includes a plurality of at least one elementary microstructure. An electrical storage device, and more particularly an all-solid-state battery, can include the microstructured substrate.