Mixed-Polymer Electrolyte Composition for Thermal-Stable Lithium Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium batteries face challenges in achieving improved thermal safety and electrochemical properties, particularly with liquid electrolytes, due to concerns about ionic conductivity, stability, and internal resistance, which hinder their widespread adoption in applications like electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
Innovation Solution
An electrolyte composition is developed that includes a lithium salt, an organic solvent, and a polymer additive mixture of halogen-based, silicon-based, and acrylic polymers or their copolymers, which are added in a specific weight percentage and molecular weight range, enhancing thermal stability and electrochemical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flame retardant is added to improve thermal safety, then thermal stability is improved, but cost increases and cell performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the electrolyte by introducing a polymer additive with specific molecular weight range (1,000-1,000,000 g/mol) and composition ratios (0.1-30 wt%). This polymer modifies the electrolyte's thermal properties and ionic conductivity without requiring traditional flame retardants, thus improving thermal safety while maintaining cell performance
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite electrolyte system by combining the polymer additive with existing electrolyte components (lithium salt, organic solvent, and optionally inorganic filler). This composite approach achieves enhanced thermal stability and electrochemical performance through synergistic effects, avoiding the performance degradation associated with conventional flame retardants
2Reliability
If the amount of flame retardant is increased to improve safety, then thermal safety is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a polymer additive with optimized composition ratio (0.1-30 wt%) that provides effective thermal safety at much lower concentrations than conventional flame retardants. The polymer's high efficiency per unit mass reduces the overall amount of additive needed, thereby lowering material costs
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer additive serves as a cost-effective alternative to expensive conventional flame retardants. By using readily available polymer materials with appropriate molecular weights and compositions, the patent achieves thermal safety at lower material cost
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 electrolyte composition improves ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability, and thermal safety, maintaining cell performance and extending cycle life while minimizing electrochemical side reactions and volatilization, thus enhancing the safety and efficiency of lithium batteries.
Implementation Method 1
it is judged that it will take a long time for a solid electrolyte to be commercialized due to relatively low ionic conductivity
Implementation Method 2
The electrolyte composition improves ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability, and thermal safety, maintaining cell performance and extending cycle life while minimizing electrochemical side reactions and volatilization
Data Source
AI summary
A lithium battery according to the inventive concept includes: a first electrode structure; a second electrode structure separated from the first electrode structure; and an electrolyte between the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure, wherein the electrolyte includes: a lithium salt; an organic solvent; and an additive, the additive includes a polymer additive, and the polymer additive may be a mixture of at least two or more polymers among a halogen-based polymer, a silicon-based polymer and an acrylic polymer, or a copolymer thereof.