Polymaleimide Polymer Electrolyte for Safe High-Conductivity Batteries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid electrolytes in batteries are flammable and volatile, leading to safety issues like fire and explosions, while existing solid polymer electrolytes have lower ion conductivity and risk polarization, limiting battery performance and lifetime.

Innovation Solution

A polymer electrolyte comprising a polymaleimide copolymer with specific repeat units and a thiol-ene reaction process that eliminates the need for processing solvents, enhancing ionic conductivity, mechanical stability, and resistance to high voltages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional liquid electrolytes are used, then high ionic conductivity is achieved, but safety deteriorates due to flammability and volatility

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidflammability and volatility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the electrolyte from liquid to solid polymer form, eliminating flammability and volatility while maintaining ionic conductivity through careful selection of polymer matrix and salt composition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite electrolyte system combining polymer matrix (e.g., polyethylene oxide), lithium salts (e.g., LiPF6), and plasticizers to achieve both safety of solid electrolytes and ionic conductivity comparable to liquid electrolytes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If gel polymer electrolytes with cross-linked structure are used, then structural and thermal stability is improved, but ion conductivity deteriorates due to hindered ion movement

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural and thermal stabilityVSAvoidion conductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces localized flexible segments and plasticizer domains within the cross-linked polymer matrix, creating regions of high ion mobility while maintaining overall structural stability through the cross-linked network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the cross-linking density and introduces plasticizing agents to adjust the glass transition temperature and chain flexibility, balancing structural stability with ion transport capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If polyether groups are used in polymer electrolyte, then ionic conductivity is improved, but electrochemical stability deteriorates at high voltage (4V and above)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveionic conductivityVSAvoidelectrochemical stability at high voltage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines polyether segments for ion conduction with fluorinated or aromatic hydrocarbon segments for high voltage stability, creating a block copolymer or composite structure that leverages the advantages of both material types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent localizes polyether groups in specific domains or blocks within the polymer chain, concentrating ion conduction functionality in regions where it is needed while other regions provide electrochemical stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If dual-ion conducting salts are used, then ionic conductivity is improved, but polarization risk increases leading to reduced power density

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveionic conductivityVSAvoidpower density

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the salt-to-polymer ratio and selects specific lithium salts with appropriate dissociation characteristics to achieve high ionic conductivity while maintaining high lithium transference number, thereby reducing polarization

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 polymer electrolyte achieves high ionic conductivity, thermal stability, and reduced polarization, resulting in improved battery performance and extended lifetime with stable charging/discharging cycles.

Implementation Method 1

a gel polymer electrolyte for lithium secondary batteries, obtained from a precursor composition comprising two cross-linking agents, one thereof comprising at least two thiol functional groups

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThiol-ene reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

These electrolytes have high ionic conductivity and are electrochemically stable inside the voltage window of the battery

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonic conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 3

Gel polymer electrolytes are systems in which a liquid electrolyte is encapsulated and impregnated in a, typically chemically, cross-linked polymer structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAbsorption: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentUS20250210707A1Polymer electrolytes and methods to produce them

Publication Date: 2025.06.26 BELENOS CLEAN POWER HLDG

AI summary

A polymer electrolyte for a battery cell. The polymer electrolyte includes or substantially consists of a polymaleimide copolymer. The polymaleimide copolymer includes or substantially consists of first polymaleimide repeat units and second polymaleimide repeat units, wherein the first polymaleimide repeat units and the second polymaleimide repeat units are covalently bonded to one another.