Polymer Electrolyte Composite for Battery Safety and Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion cells using liquid electrolytes face safety issues due to potential ignition and rupture from temperature abnormalities, and polymer-based solid electrolytes can suffer from durability problems under stress, leading to breakage and thinning.
Innovation Solution
A polymer electrolyte is developed by polymerizing a monomer with oxyethylene units and a glyme, combined with a salt, forming a plasticized crosslinked network that maintains mechanical strength and ionic conductivity, and can be used in a composite material with a porous carrier to enhance durability and ionic conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a polymer electrolyte is used to improve safety and prevent ignition, then safety is improved, but durability decreases due to breakage and thinning under stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines polymer electrolyte with inorganic solid electrolyte particles to create a composite structure. The inorganic particles reinforce the polymer matrix, preventing breakage and thinning under stress while maintaining the safety benefits of solid electrolyte. This composite approach allows the electrolyte to withstand mechanical stress without sacrificing safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the polymer electrolyte composition by adding inorganic solid electrolyte particles and adjusting the ratio of polymer to inorganic components. This parameter change transforms the electrolyte from a purely organic polymer structure to a hybrid composite, enhancing mechanical strength and durability while preserving ionic conductivity and safety properties.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the electrolyte is made stretchable and flexible to improve adaptability, then adaptability is improved, but mechanical strength decreases leading to breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of polymer matrix with inorganic particles provides both flexibility and strength. The polymer component allows stretching and bending, while the inorganic particles act as reinforcement to prevent breakage, achieving a balance between adaptability and mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The inorganic solid electrolyte particles are distributed throughout the polymer matrix, providing localized reinforcement at critical stress points while maintaining the overall flexibility of the polymer structure. This local quality enhancement allows the electrolyte to be both stretchable and strong.
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 electrolyte exhibits stretchability, flexibility, and high ionic conductivity while preventing mechanical stress-induced durability issues, and when used in a composite material, it improves mechanical properties and ionic conductivity, preventing dendrite generation and maintaining performance over time.
Implementation Method 1
a polymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer represented by the following Formula (1)
Implementation Method 2
a glyme represented by the following Formula (2)... forming a plasticized crosslinked network
Implementation Method 3
at least one salt selected from the group consisting of a lithium salt, a sodium salt, a magnesium salt, a potassium salt, and a calcium salt... high ionic conductivity
Data Source
AI summary
An object is to provide an electrolyte having stretchability and flexibility and capable of preventing a decrease in durability of the electrolyte, a secondary cell, and a composite material. The object can be implemented with an electrolyte containing: a polymer obtained by polymerizing a monomer represented by the following Formula (1) (In Formula (1), R1 and R2 each independently represent H or a linear, branched, or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms. X1 and X2 each independently represent O or NH. When X2 is O, n represents an integer of 0 to 30 on average, and when X2 is NH, n represents an integer of 1 to 30 on average.); a glyme represented by the following Formula (2) (In Formula (2), R3 and R4 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and m represents an integer of 1 to 4.); and at least one salt selected from the group consisting of a lithium salt, a sodium salt, a magnesium salt, a potassium salt, and a calcium salt.