Molded Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Uniform Biodegradable Batteries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current battery technologies lack environmentally friendly and biodegradable options, leading to toxic waste issues, and all-printed batteries face challenges with non-uniform thickness, air bubbles, and short circuits due to inadequate manufacturing processes.

Innovation Solution

Development of a biodegradable electrochemical device with a molded gel polymer electrolyte composition, including a hydrogel copolymer and salt, and a method for producing a uniform electrolyte layer using a substrate, gasket, and release layer to ensure bubble-free and adequate thickness, applied with ultraviolet curing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional screen printing method is used to deposit GPE material, then manufacturing process is simple, but the electrolyte layer has non-uniform thickness, inadequate pile height, and air bubbles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing process simplicityVSAvoidelectrolyte layer uniformity and quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional screen printing mechanical system with a molding process that uses a mold cavity and compression force to form the electrolyte layer. This substitution eliminates the deposition issues of screen printing while maintaining ease of manufacture through a straightforward molding operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by preparing the mold cavity with release agents and positioning components before depositing the electrolyte material. This preliminary preparation ensures that the electrolyte layer forms uniformly without defects during the molding process, achieving both simplicity and precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If biodegradable materials are used in battery components, then environmental friendliness is improved, but structural integrity and performance consistency are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental toxicityVSAvoidbattery performance consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials by combining biodegradable polymer matrices with inorganic fillers and salts to create the electrolyte. This composite approach maintains environmental friendliness while the inorganic components provide structural integrity and consistent electrochemical performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the composition ratios, molecular weight, and crosslinking density of the biodegradable polymer components. These parameter adjustments ensure that the biodegradable electrolyte achieves both environmental compatibility and reliable operational performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If GPE layer is used instead of soaked material, then structural integrity and flexibility are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrolyte layer structural integrityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex multi-step GPE fabrication processes with a simple molding operation. The mold cavity directly forms the integrated GPE structure in one step, achieving high structural integrity without increasing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 provides a biodegradable and environmentally friendly battery with improved structural integrity and performance by ensuring a uniform electrolyte layer, reducing waste and operational issues associated with conventional batteries.

Implementation Method 1

The electrolyte composition may include a photoinitiator. The photoinitiator may include lithium phenyl-2,4,6-trimethylbenzophoosphinate. Curing the electrolyte composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotopolymerisation: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS20230282880A1Biodegradable electrochemical device and methods thereof

Publication Date: 2023.09.07 XEROX CORP

AI summary

An electrochemical device is disclosed, which may include an anode, a cathode, and a molded electrolyte composition disposed between the anode and the cathode. Implementations of the electrochemical device may include where the cathode and/or the anode are disposed in a stacked geometry. The electrolyte composition may include a gel polymer electrolyte, which can include a hydrogel of a copolymer and a salt dispersed in the hydrogel of a copolymer. The electrolyte composition may alternatively include a crosslinker or a photoinitiator. A method of producing an electrolyte layer of an electrochemical device is also disclosed, including preparing a substrate having an electrode for an electrochemical device, preparing a gasket to form a cavity on the substrate for the electrolyte layer, and depositing an electrolyte composition onto the substrate