Non-aqueous Electrolyte for Lithium Battery SEI Formation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium secondary batteries face challenges in maintaining high-temperature cycle characteristics and low-temperature output due to non-uniform solid electrolyte interface (SEI) formation, especially when using non-aqueous organic solvents and lithium salts with poor characteristics, leading to irreversible capacity and reduced output.

Innovation Solution

A non-aqueous electrolyte solution comprising propylene carbonate, an ester-based solvent, and lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide, with a specific mixing ratio of lithium salts, forms a robust SEI on the anode, improving high-temperature and low-temperature output characteristics and capacity retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If an ester-based solvent is used to improve output characteristics, then low-temperature and room temperature output characteristics are improved, but high-temperature characteristics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoutput characteristicsVSAvoidhigh-temperature characteristics
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines ester-based solvent (for low-temperature output improvement) with propylene carbonate and cyclic carbonate solvents (for high-temperature stability) in a specific ratio to create a solvent system that achieves both low-temperature output characteristics and high-temperature cycle characteristics simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the concentration ratio of ester-based solvent to cyclic carbonate solvent within specific ranges (ester-based solvent: 10-40 wt%, cyclic carbonate solvent: 60-80 wt%) to balance the conflicting requirements of low-temperature output and high-temperature stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of manufacture

If non-aqueous organic solvent and lithium salt with poor characteristics are used, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but SEI formation uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidSEI formation uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a specific additive composition (containing fluoroethylene carbonate and vinylene carbonate in controlled amounts) that acts as an intermediary to mediate between the poor-characteristics lithium salt and the electrode surface, enabling uniform SEI formation even with cost-effective lithium salt materials

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite electrolyte system combining multiple solvents (propylene carbonate, cyclic carbonate, ester-based solvent) and multiple additives in specific ratios to achieve synergistic effects that improve SEI uniformity while maintaining cost-effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If lithium salt concentration is increased to improve SEI formation, then SEI robustness is improved, but irreversible capacity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSEI robustnessVSAvoidirreversible capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes lithium salt concentration within a specific range (0.5-2.0 mol/L) and adjusts the composition ratio of different lithium salts (LiPF6, LiBF4, LiCF3SO3) to achieve sufficient SEI robustness while minimizing irreversible capacity loss through synergistic effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enhances initial and low-temperature output characteristics, suppresses cathode surface decomposition, and maintains high-temperature performance by forming a stable SEI, resulting in improved capacity retention and cycle stability.

Implementation Method 1

Charge and discharge of the lithium secondary battery is performed while a process of intercalating and deintercalating lithium ions from a lithium metal oxide cathode into and out of a graphite anode is repeated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIntercalation:

Implementation Method 2

The SEI may only pass the lithium ions by acting as an ion tunnel

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon tunneling:

Implementation Method 3

since lithium is highly reactive, lithium reacts with the carbon electrode to form Li 2 CO 3, LiO, or LiOH

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentEP2846393B1Non-aqueous electrolyte and lithium secondary battery comprising same
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 LG CHEM LTD
  • EP2846393B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2846393B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2846393B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided are a non-aqueous electrolyte solution, which includes a non-aqueous organic solvent including propylene carbonate (PC) and an ester-based solvent, and lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), and a lithium secondary battery including the non-aqueous electrolyte solution. According to the non-aqueous electrolyte solution of the present invention, since a robust solid electrolyte interface (SEI) may be formed on an anode during initial charge of a lithium secondary battery including the non-aqueous electrolyte solution, high-temperature cycle characteristics and capacity characteristics after high-temperature storage as well as low-temperature, room temperature, and high-temperature output characteristics may be simultaneously improved.