Path-Engineered Ceramic Electrolyte Particles in Polymer Matrix
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Solution Overview
Problem
Polycrystalline ceramic electrolytes exhibit limited ionic conductivity and poor mechanical properties, making them difficult to manufacture and incorporate into electrochemical devices, while single crystal ceramic electrolytes are less practical due to their complexity.
Innovation Solution
The development of path-engineered ion-conducting ceramic electrolyte particles with an anisotropic or isotropic crystalline structure, positioned in a solid polymeric matrix to enhance ionic conductivity and mechanical flexibility, where the preferred conductivity direction is aligned with the minimum path length through the matrix, reducing the impact of grain boundaries on ionic transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If polycrystalline ceramic electrolytes are used, then manufacturing practicality is improved, but ionic conductivity is reduced due to grain boundaries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining polycrystalline ceramic electrolyte particles with a polymer matrix to form a composite electrolyte. This composite structure allows the ceramic particles to provide ion conduction pathways while the polymer matrix provides mechanical flexibility and strain tolerance, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing practicality and ionic conductivity by integrating the advantages of both materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions of high ionic conductivity within the polymer matrix through the strategic placement of polycrystalline ceramic particles. The ceramic particles serve as localized conductive pathways that bypass the grain boundary limitations, allowing the electrolyte to exhibit high ionic conductivity in specific regions while maintaining overall mechanical flexibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If polycrystalline ceramic electrolytes are used, then ease of manufacture is improved, but mechanical properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials to combine the manufacturing ease of polycrystalline ceramics with the mechanical advantages of polymers. The polymer matrix provides flexibility, strain tolerance, and mechanical strength, while the ceramic particles provide ionic conductivity pathways, creating a composite that exceeds the mechanical properties of conventional ceramic electrolytes.
Solution Approach 2:
The polymer matrix acts as an intermediary material that bridges the mechanical properties of polycrystalline ceramics and the requirements for flexibility. It provides mechanical support and flexibility while allowing the ceramic particles to maintain their ion-conducting function, effectively mediating between the conflicting requirements of ease of manufacture and mechanical strength.
3Reliability
If single crystal ceramic electrolytes are used, then ionic conductivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials to achieve high ionic conductivity without requiring single crystal structures. By dispersing polycrystalline ceramic particles in a polymer matrix, the system creates multiple ion conduction pathways that collectively provide high conductivity while maintaining manufacturing simplicity and reducing device complexity compared to single crystal electrolytes.
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
This configuration results in significantly improved ionic conductivity, typically exceeding 10^-4 S/cm, and increased mechanical tolerance, allowing for enhanced performance in electrochemical devices with reduced area specific resistance and improved handling and durability.
Implementation Method 1
the ionic conductivity of the crystalline structure in a preferred conductivity direction H associated with one of the crystal planes of the path-engineered particle is larger than the ionic conductivity of the crystalline structure in a reduced conductivity direction L
Implementation Method 2
subjecting ceramic precursor crystals to thermally-induced microcracking. The micro-cracked precursor crystals can be separated into individual path-engineered ion-conducting ceramic electrolyte particles
Data Source
Figure 1A~4
Figure 2~5
AI summary
An ion-conducting composite electrolyte (10) is provided comprising path-engineered ion-conducting ceramic electrolyte particles (20) and a solid polymeric matrix (30). The path-engineered particles (20) are characterized by an anisotropic crystalline structure and the ionic conductivity of the crystalline structure in a preferred conductivity direction H associated with one of the crystal planes of the path-engineered particle is larger than the ionic conductivity of the crystalline structure in a reduced conductivity direction L associated with another of the crystal planes of the path-engineered particle. The path-engineered particles are sized and positioned in the polymeric matrix (30) such that a majority of the path-engineered particles breach both of the opposite major faces (32, 34) of the matrix body and are oriented in the polymeric matrix (30) such that the preferred conductivity direction H is more closely aligned with a minimum path length spanning a thickness of the matrix body than is the reduced conductivity direction L.