Porous Separator Composition for Nitrile Electrolyte Wettability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electrochemical devices face increased fire and explosion risks as capacity increases, necessitating enhanced heat resistance and safety measures, particularly when using nitrile-based compounds in electrolytes due to reduced wettability and increased electrical resistance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a porous separator with blended hydrophilic inorganic particles or hydrophilic polymers in a porous substrate, combined with a nitrile-based electrolyte, to enhance wettability, thermal stability, and non-flammability, while maintaining high ionic conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional hydrophobic separator is used with a nitrile-based electrolyte, then the separator structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the wettability is reduced and electrical resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining a hydrophobic porous polymer substrate with hydrophilic inorganic particles (such as Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, or ZnO) to create a separator that maintains the mechanical strength and porosity of the original substrate while adding wettability through the hydrophilic particles. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by preserving manufacturing simplicity while improving electrical conductivity through enhanced electrolyte wettability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating only the surface or specific regions of the porous substrate with hydrophilic inorganic particles, rather than changing the entire separator structure. This allows the bulk of the separator to remain simple and easy to manufacture, while the treated regions provide the necessary wettability improvement for nitrile-based electrolytes, thus resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and electrical conductivity.
2Quantity of substance
If the capacity of the electrochemical device is increased, then the energy storage capability is improved, but the risk of fire and explosion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a nitrile-based compound as a mediator between the electrodes and the electrolyte system. This compound acts as a flame retardant that reduces the flammability of the electrolyte, thereby mitigating the fire and explosion risks associated with high-capacity devices while preserving the increased energy storage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition parameters of the electrolyte system through the addition of nitrile-based compounds. This changes the flammability parameter of the electrolyte, reducing the fire and explosion risk while maintaining the high capacity performance needed for increased energy storage.
3Reliability
If a porous separator with hydrophilic inorganic particles is used, then the wettability and thermal stability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous materials by utilizing a porous polymer substrate as the base structure of the separator. This substrate provides the necessary porosity for ion transport while maintaining a relatively simple structure. The hydrophilic inorganic particles are then incorporated into this porous structure, enhancing thermal stability without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
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 provides an electrochemical device with improved wettability, thermal stability, and fire safety, ensuring effective ion transport and reduced risk of combustion, suitable for high-capacity applications.
Implementation Method 1
the separator is a porous polymer membrane in which one or more hydrophilic inorganic particles or a hydrophilic polymer are blended in a porous substrate
Implementation Method 2
the separator... configured to allow ions to pass between the positive electrode and the negative electrode
Implementation Method 3
the electrolyte is disposed in the electrochemical device and configured to allow ions to pass between the positive electrode and the negative electrode
Implementation Method 4
the separator is disposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode and configured to act as a barrier between the positive electrode and the negative electrode
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
Electrochemical devices are disclosed for various applications such as secondary batteries. In an embodiment, an electrochemical device including a positive electrode, a negative electrode, a separator, and an electrolyte. Specifically, the separator includes a porous polymer membrane including one or more of hydrophilic inorganic particles or a hydrophilic polymer that are blended in a porous substrate, and the electrolyte includes a nitrile-based compound. The electrochemical device exhibits high ionic conductivity by including the porous separator having wettability to the electrolyte.