Organic Positive Active Material Aqueous Battery Dissolution Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Rechargeable lithium batteries face limitations due to the scarcity and high cost of lithium and transition metal raw materials, and organic redox-active materials (ROMs) suffer from high solubility in electrolytes, leading to capacity degradation and short cycle-life characteristics, hindering their commercialization.

Innovation Solution

An aqueous rechargeable battery design incorporating an organic positive active material represented by Chemical Formula 1, a negative electrode, and a high concentration aqueous electrolyte with a metal salt, which suppresses the dissolution of the active material in the electrolyte, ensuring stable long-term operation and high energy density.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If organic redox-active materials are used as positive active material, then capacity and energy density are improved, but solubility in electrolyte causes capacity degradation and short cycle-life

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecapacityVSAvoidcycle-life characteristics

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrolyte parameter from conventional organic electrolyte to aqueous electrolyte with high salt concentration (greater than 10 m). This parameter change fundamentally alters the solubility characteristics, preventing organic active material dissolution while maintaining electrochemical performance, thus resolving the contradiction between high capacity and long cycle-life

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite electrolyte system combining water and high concentration metal salt, forming a unique aqueous electrolyte environment. This composite approach enables the system to simultaneously achieve high energy density through organic active materials and long cycle-life by preventing material dissolution through the specialized electrolyte composition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If conventional organic electrolyte is used, then organic active material shows high solubility and good initial performance, but active material dissolves during operation causing long-term performance deterioration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinitial capacityVSAvoidlong-term performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the electrolyte composition parameter from organic solvent-based to water-based with high salt concentration. This parameter transformation maintains initial capacity by preserving electrochemical activity while eliminating long-term performance deterioration by creating an environment where organic active materials remain insoluble

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If polymerization of active material is performed to reduce solubility, then dissolution is reduced, but theoretical capacity decreases and energy density is lowered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedissolution resistanceVSAvoidtheoretical capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of modifying the active material (polymerization) to reduce solubility, the patent inverts the approach by modifying the electrolyte environment. By using aqueous electrolyte with high salt concentration, the patent achieves dissolution resistance without altering the active material structure, thereby preserving theoretical capacity and energy density

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 battery achieves stable long-term performance with high energy density and excellent cycle-life characteristics, suitable for electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage systems, by using an organic positive active material that is not dissolved in the electrolyte, even at high rates, and maintaining capacity without deterioration.

Implementation Method 1

an aqueous electrolyte including a water solvent and a metal salt with a molality of greater than or equal to about 10 m

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSolvation: Solvation

Data Source

PatentUS20230134472A1Aqueous rechargeable battery including organic positive active material

Publication Date: 2023.05.04 SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION

AI summary

Provided is an aqueous rechargeable battery that includes a positive electrode including an organic positive active material including a compound represented by Chemical Formula 1, a negative electrode, a separator between the positive electrode and negative electrode, and an aqueous electrolyte including a water solvent and a metal salt with a molality of greater than or equal to about 10 m. Definitions for Chemical Formula 1 are as described in the specification.