Nitrogen-Enriched Solid Electrolyte Particles for Battery Bonding

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Solution Overview

Problem

All-solid state secondary batteries face challenges with poor bonding properties between solid particles and between layers, which affect handleability and battery performance, particularly due to the use of hydrocarbon-based polymers and inorganic solid electrolytes.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating inorganic solid electrolyte particles and electrode active material particles with a nitrogen element proportion of 0.1 atm% or more on their surface, achieved through actinic ray treatment, to enhance bonding affinity and conductivity, using oxide-based or sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolytes and specific electrode active material compositions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If inorganic solid electrolyte particles are used, then ion conductivity is improved, but bonding property between particles deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveion conductivityVSAvoidbonding property

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies actinic ray irradiation to change the surface parameters of inorganic solid electrolyte particles, specifically increasing the nitrogen element proportion on the surface from less than 0.1 atm% to 0.1 atm% or more. This parameter change transforms the surface properties to enhance bonding affinity while preserving the bulk ion conductivity of the inorganic solid electrolyte material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure where inorganic solid electrolyte particles are combined with organic binder materials through surface modification. The actinic ray-treated surface of inorganic particles forms a composite interface with the organic binder, combining the advantages of inorganic materials (ion conductivity) with organic materials (bonding affinity).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If hydrocarbon-based polymer is used as binder, then ease of manufacture is improved, but bonding affinity with inorganic solid electrolyte deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidbonding affinity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the surface parameters of inorganic solid electrolyte particles through actinic ray irradiation, creating a nitrogen-enriched surface layer. This surface modification enables hydrocarbon-based polymer binders to achieve sufficient bonding affinity with inorganic particles, maintaining ease of manufacture while improving bonding properties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The actinic ray-treated surface acts as an intermediary between the hydrocarbon-based polymer binder and the inorganic solid electrolyte particles. The nitrogen-containing surface groups created by irradiation serve as intermediate bonding sites that are compatible with both organic polymers and inorganic materials, facilitating effective adhesion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If nitrogen element proportion on particle surface is increased, then bonding affinity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebonding affinityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies actinic ray irradiation as a preliminary treatment step to inorganic solid electrolyte particles before they are mixed with binder materials and processed into electrodes. This preliminary surface modification ensures that bonding affinity is established at the particle level before subsequent manufacturing steps, simplifying the overall manufacturing process despite the added irradiation step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Improves the bonding properties between solid particles and layers, leading to enhanced handleability and battery performance by increasing ion conductivity and energy density, while reducing the risk of dendrite formation and degradation.

Implementation Method 1

a proportion of a nitrogen element in an element composition of a surface of at least one kind of the inorganic solid electrolyte particles or the electrode active material particles is 0.1 atm % or more

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectActinic ray treatment: Photopolymerisation

Data Source

PatentUS10797354B2All-solid state secondary battery, particles for all-solid state secondary battery, solid electrolyte composition for all-solid state secondary battery, and electrode sheet for all-solid state secondary battery, and methods for manufacturing same

Publication Date: 2020.10.06 FUJIFILM CORP

AI summary

Provided are an all-solid state secondary battery including inorganic solid electrolyte particles having conductivity for ions of metals belonging to Group I or II of the periodic table; and electrode active material particles, in which a proportion of a nitrogen element in an element composition of a surface of at least one kind of the inorganic solid electrolyte particles or the electrode active material particles is 0.1 atm % or more, particles for an all-solid state secondary battery, a solid electrolyte composition for an all-solid state secondary battery for which the particles are used, an electrode sheet for an all-solid state secondary battery, and an all-solid state secondary battery, and methods for manufacturing the same.