Porous Frame Solid Electrolyte Membrane for Thin, Safer Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion batteries face stability issues due to the use of organic electrolytes, which can lead to ignition and explosion risks, especially in medium to large secondary batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems, and there is a need for a safer, high-voltage electrolyte solution.
Innovation Solution
A porous frame-based solid electrolyte membrane is developed, comprising a porous frame made of metal or polymer material, coated with solid electrolyte particles and a binder, which covers both surfaces and fills the pores, enhancing mechanical strength and ion conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ceramic-based solid electrolyte is used, then safety and electrochemical stability are improved, but mechanical strength and handling ease deteriorate due to brittleness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining a porous ceramic electrolyte layer with a flexible porous substrate (metal foam or polymer). The ceramic layer provides safety and electrochemical stability, while the substrate provides mechanical strength and flexibility, resolving the contradiction between safety and mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a porous ceramic electrolyte layer with controlled porosity (30-70%) that maintains ion conductivity while providing flexibility and mechanical robustness. The porous structure allows the brittle ceramic to bend and flex without breaking, solving the mechanical strength issue while maintaining safety benefits.
2Volume of moving object
If a solid electrolyte membrane is made thinner to reduce cell volume, then energy density is improved, but mechanical strength and handling ease worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible porous substrate acts as a mechanical support that enables the ceramic electrolyte layer to be made very thin (1-100 micrometers) without compromising overall mechanical strength. The substrate provides the necessary strength while the thin ceramic layer minimizes volume, resolving the contradiction between thinness and mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent distributes mechanical strength locally through the flexible substrate that is integrated throughout the electrolyte membrane structure. This allows different regions to handle mechanical stresses differently, enabling thin overall dimensions while maintaining sufficient local strength for handling.
3Reliability
If a porous frame structure is used, then ion conductivity is improved, but mechanical strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a porous ceramic electrolyte layer where the porous structure provides ion conduction pathways. The porosity (30-70%) ensures high ion conductivity while the flexible substrate provides the mechanical strength that the porous structure alone would lack, resolving the contradiction between ion conductivity and mechanical strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite of porous ceramic and flexible substrate creates a material that combines the ion-conducting properties of the porous structure with the mechanical strength of the substrate, simultaneously achieving high ion conductivity and adequate mechanical strength.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a solid electrolyte membrane including a porous frame including a metal or a polymer material, solid electrolyte particles covering both surfaces of the porous frame, and filling pores of the porous frame, and a binder between the solid electrolyte particles.