Oxide-Complex Hydride Ionic Conductor for Press-Molded Li-Ion Transport

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ion conductors, particularly those combining oxide-type and sulfide-type lithium ion conductors, face safety issues due to the presence of sulfide-type conductors, which generate hazardous gases, and struggle with low lithium ion conductivity despite enhanced particle contact through sintering or vapor deposition.

Innovation Solution

An ion conductor comprising an oxide-type lithium ion conductor and a complex hydride, where the complex hydride enhances particle contact through press molding without sintering or vapor deposition, achieving high lithium ion conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sulfide-type lithium ion conductor is used to enhance particle contact through press molding, then lithium ion conductivity is improved, but safety deteriorates due to hydrogen sulfide gas generation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium ion conductivityVSAvoidhydrogen sulfide gas generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the sulfide-type lithium ion conductor component from the ion conductor composition, eliminating the source of hydrogen sulfide gas generation while retaining the oxide-type lithium ion conductor as the primary material

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a complex hydride as an intermediary substance that modifies the oxide-type lithium ion conductor powder, enabling enhanced particle contact and lithium ion conductivity through press molding without requiring sulfide-type conductors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If oxide-type lithium ion conductor powder is subjected to sintering or vapor deposition to enhance lithium ion conductivity, then lithium ion conductivity is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium ion conductivityVSAvoidproduction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the oxide-type lithium ion conductor powder by incorporating a complex hydride, which fundamentally alters the powder's pressibility and particle contact characteristics, enabling high conductivity through simple press molding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex thermal processing systems (sintering furnaces, vapor deposition equipment) with a simple mechanical press molding system, achieving comparable or superior lithium ion conductivity through mechanical compression alone

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If relative amount of sulfide-type lithium ion conductor is reduced to improve safety, then safety is improved, but lithium ion conductivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidlithium ion conductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The complex hydride acts as a mediator that enables the oxide-type lithium ion conductor to achieve high particle contact and conductivity through press molding, compensating for the removal of sulfide-type conductors and maintaining conductivity without sacrificing safety

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite material system combining oxide-type lithium ion conductor with complex hydride, where the complex hydride provides the softness and pressibility needed for high particle contact, while the oxide-type conductor provides the conductive pathway, achieving both safety and conductivity

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 results in lithium ion conductivities of 1.0 × 10 -5< S/cm or higher at room temperature, with improved safety by avoiding hazardous gas generation and maintaining battery capacity.

Implementation Method 1

close contact between particles in the powder can be readily enhanced by pressing, because it is relatively soft in powder form

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPress molding: Compression

Implementation Method 2

The ion conductor contains an oxide-type lithium ion conductor and a complex hydride but contains no sulfide-type ion conductor, to thereby attain high lithium ion conductivity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLithium ion conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentEP3790026B1Ionic conductor and electricity storage device
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 NITERRA CO LTD
  • EP3790026B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3790026B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3790026B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is an ionic conductor with which adhesion between particles can be enhanced simply by pressure-molding a powder without using sulfide ionic conductors and without performing firing or vapor deposition, and which can exhibit a high lithium ionic conductivity. This ionic conductor contains, in addition to an oxide lithium ionic conductor, a complex hydride.