Organic Lithium Battery with Biaxially Oriented Polypropylene Separator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing organic lithium batteries face challenges with low cycling stability, high toxicity, high cost, and resource limitations due to the use of inorganic electrode materials, and existing redox organic structures have limited specific capacity and reversibility.

Innovation Solution

An organic lithium battery design featuring a biaxially oriented polypropylene separator and a liquid or gelled electrolyte with low molecular weight linear or cyclic polyethers, which improves electrochemical performance and lithium ion transport, while using redox organic structures with enhanced electrochemical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If inorganic electrode materials (LiCoO2, LiMnO4, LiFePO4, etc.) are used, then electrochemical performance is improved, but toxicity increases, cost increases, and resource availability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrochemical performanceVSAvoidtoxicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive, toxic inorganic materials with cheaper, non-toxic organic compounds that can be derived from renewable resources. The organic positive electrode active materials (redox structures) and negative electrode active materials are designed to be environmentally friendly alternatives that maintain electrochemical performance while eliminating toxicity and cost issues associated with inorganic materials like LiCoO2 and LiMnO4

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the fundamental chemical composition parameters from inorganic to organic materials. By using organic compounds with specific redox structures and functional groups, the patent achieves comparable electrochemical performance while improving environmental compatibility, reducing toxicity, and lowering costs through the use of abundant, renewable resources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If inorganic electrode materials are used, then electrochemical performance is improved, but resource availability decreases due to geological origin and energy-intensive processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrochemical performanceVSAvoidresource availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces geologically sourced inorganic materials with organic compounds that can be produced from renewable resources through sustainable processes. This ensures long-term resource availability and reduces dependence on finite geological resources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent fundamentally changes the material source parameters from geological extraction to renewable resource production, ensuring sustainable supply chains and long-term resource availability for battery manufacturing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If conventional electrolyte solvents are used, then lithium ion transport is achieved, but the separator must withstand corrosive conditions and maintain mechanical resistance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium ion transportVSAvoidseparator stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a gel polymer electrolyte as an intermediary medium that combines the liquid electrolyte's ionic conductivity with the solid polymer's mechanical strength and chemical stability. This gel electrolyte protects the separator from direct contact with corrosive liquid electrolyte while maintaining lithium ion transport capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials including gel polymer electrolytes and advanced separator materials that combine multiple properties: ionic conductivity from the electrolyte, mechanical strength from the polymer matrix, and chemical stability from the composite structure. This composite approach resolves the contradiction between maintaining lithium ion transport and ensuring separator stability under corrosive conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 the stability and specific capacity of organic lithium batteries over multiple cycles, reduces toxicity and cost, and utilizes renewable resources, addressing the limitations of inorganic materials and previous redox organic structures.

Implementation Method 1

an appropriate porous structure, to allow the diffusion of the anions and cations of the electrolyte

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Implementation Method 2

an organic structure capable of implementing one or more Reversible oxidation-reduction reactions, in particular by exchanging electrons with an electrode and simultaneously by associating with lithium ions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRedox reactions: Redox Reactions

Implementation Method 3

The liquid electrolyte consists for example of a lithium salt (e.g. LiBF4, LiClO4, LiPF6, etc.) in solution in a solvent chosen to optimize the transport and the dissociation of the ions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDissociation:

Data Source

PatentEP3231023B1Organic lithium battery
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 BLUE SOLUTIONS
  • EP3231023B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3231023B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to the field of organic lithium batteries having high energy and power densities. The invention particularly relates to an organic lithium battery comprising a positive electrode based on organic redox compounds as well as a porous biaxially oriented polypropylene separator, and to a method for the production thereof.