Multi-Electrolyte Battery Sealing for Low-Impedance Solid-State Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Solid-state batteries face challenges with high interfacial impedance, which limits charging and discharging rates, and integrating a solid electrolyte in a porous layer is difficult, especially when both sides are involved, leading to lower achievable capacity and safety concerns with liquid electrolytes.
Innovation Solution
A multi-electrolyte battery design incorporating a solid electrolyte and one or more other electrolytes, where the solid electrolyte extends outside the anode and cathode, using a heat-sensitive resin for sealing, which reduces or eliminates the formation of a solid electrolyte interfacial layer, enhances safety, and increases energy density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If liquid electrolyte is used, then ionic conductivity is high and power delivery is maximized, but safety concerns arise due to high volatility under extreme conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is divided into separate liquid and solid electrolyte compartments. The liquid electrolyte is sealed in a specific compartment to maximize power delivery, while the solid electrolyte provides safety benefits. This segmentation allows each electrolyte type to fulfill its optimal function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
A polymer-based separator acts as an intermediary between the liquid and solid electrolyte compartments. This separator electrically isolates the two electrolyte types while allowing the system to benefit from both high ionic conductivity (from liquid) and safety/stability (from solid).
2Object-affected harmful factors
If solid-state electrolyte is used, then safety is improved and electrical resistivity is high, but interfacial impedance increases and charging/discharging rates are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The battery system is segmented into distinct liquid and solid electrolyte regions. The liquid electrolyte compartment handles high-rate charging and discharging operations where speed is critical, while the solid electrolyte compartment provides safety functions. This segmentation prevents the solid electrolyte's high interfacial impedance from limiting overall charging/discharging rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state parameter of the electrolyte from purely solid to a hybrid liquid-solid configuration. By introducing liquid electrolyte in specific compartments, the system achieves faster ion transport for charging/discharging while maintaining solid electrolyte safety benefits in other areas.
3Speed
If liquid electrolyte is used, then fast charging and discharging are enabled, but continuous SEI formation occurs on metallic anodes resulting in resistance increase and capacity fading
Solution Approach 1:
The battery is segmented into liquid and solid electrolyte compartments. Metallic anodes are placed in the solid electrolyte compartment where SEI formation is minimized, preserving battery life. The liquid electrolyte compartment handles charging/discharging operations, enabling fast rates without the continuous SEI formation problem that would otherwise occur with metallic anodes in liquid electrolyte.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer-based separator acts as an intermediary that electrically isolates the liquid and solid electrolyte compartments. This allows metallic anodes to be positioned in the solid electrolyte environment (reducing SEI formation) while still enabling fast charging/discharging through the liquid electrolyte compartment.
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 multi-electrolyte battery design improves safety, reduces interfacial resistance, and increases energy density by using separate electrolytes for the anode and cathode, allowing for faster ion passage and longer cycle life without fading, while maintaining high ionic conductivity and thermal stability.
Implementation Method 1
it is desirable for the electrolyte to have a very high ionic conductivity to facilitate rapid shuttling of lithium ions between the electrodes
Implementation Method 2
using a heat-sensitive resin for sealing
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-electrolyte battery, that may include an anode, a cathode, a solid electrolyte positioned between the anode and the cathode, current carriers that comprises an anode current carrier and a cathode current carrier; and at least one other electrolyte. The anode current carrier and the cathode current carrier comprise two external portions that extends outside the anode. The solid electrolyte is sealingly coupled to the two external portions of at least one of the current carriers to define at least one sealed electrolyte, the at least one sealed electrolyte belongs to the at least one other electrolyte.