Quasi-Solid-State Battery Electrolyte for Low-Resistance Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lithium-ion batteries with liquid organic electrolytes are flammable and have poor interfacial contact with electrode active materials, leading to high interfacial resistance and reduced active material utilization.
Innovation Solution
A synchronous process is developed to form an in-situ, non-flammable quasi-solid-state electrolyte that impregnates the electrode active materials, reducing interfacial resistance and improving active material utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid organic electrolytes are used in lithium-ion batteries, then good interfacial contact with electrode active materials is achieved, but flammability and volatility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the electrolyte from liquid to gel/quasi-solid state while maintaining good interfacial contact. The gel electrolyte comprises polymer matrix (30-70 wt%), liquid electrolyte (20-40 wt%), and lithium salt (10-30 wt%), creating a material that combines the safety of solids with the ionic conductivity and wetting properties of liquids.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite gel electrolyte system combining polymer matrix (providing structural integrity and non-flammability), liquid electrolyte (providing ionic conductivity and wetting capability), and lithium salt (providing lithium ions). This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating benefits of both solid and liquid electrolytes.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If inorganic ceramic-type solid-state electrolytes are used to replace liquid organic electrolytes, then flammability is reduced, but interfacial contact with active materials deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state from rigid solid (ceramic) to soft gel state, allowing the electrolyte to deform and conform to electrode surfaces. The gel structure provides mechanical compliance that enables intimate contact with active materials while maintaining non-flammable properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The gel electrolyte acts as an intermediary between liquid and solid electrolytes, combining the safety of solid electrolytes with the contact properties of liquid electrolytes. The liquid component within the gel matrix provides wetting capability that ceramic solids lack.
3Reliability
If polymer-based solid-state electrolytes are used, then interfacial contact is improved compared to ceramic electrolytes, but active material utilization decreases due to lack of impregnation
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid electrolyte component within the gel structure acts as an intermediary that enables impregnation of active materials during assembly, followed by in-situ polymerization. This allows the electrolyte to penetrate deep into porous electrodes, creating intimate contact throughout the entire active material volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs preliminary impregnation of the liquid electrolyte precursor into active materials before final polymerization. This preliminary action allows complete penetration and wetting of porous structures, ensuring maximum active material utilization before the gel sets into its final form.
4Productivity
If conventional liquid organic electrolytes are used, then active material utilization is high, but safety risks increase due to leakage and fire hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state from liquid to gel, eliminating leakage risks while preserving the wetting and impregnation capabilities that enable high active material utilization. The gel structure maintains the liquid-like ability to conform and penetrate electrodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The gel electrolyte composite combines the safety benefits of solid polymers (non-flammable, non-leaking) with the performance benefits of liquid electrolytes (good wetting, high ionic conductivity, excellent active material utilization).
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 achieves improved safety, reduced interfacial resistance, and enhanced utilization of electrode active materials, resulting in better performance and scalability for solid-state energy storage systems.
Implementation Method 1
a synchronous process for producing non-flammable quasi-solid-state electrolyte... The electrolyte is formed from a solution of monomer, lithium salt, and cross-linker
Implementation Method 2
The solution wets the cathode active material and the anode active material such that the polymerized non-flammable quasi-solid-state electrolyte impregnates the cathode active material and the anode active material
Implementation Method 3
the polymerized non-flammable quasi-solid-state electrolyte impregnates the cathode active material and the anode active material
Data Source
AI summary
A rechargeable battery has a cathode including a cathode active material selected from lithium iron phosphate, lithium cobalt oxide, lithium manganese oxide, lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide, or lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide. An anode includes an anode active material selected from lithium, lithium titanium oxide, graphite, or silicon. A separator is positioned between the cathode and the anode. The separator is impregnated with an in-situ-formed and synchronously polymerized non-flammable quasi-solid-state electrolyte. The electrolyte is formed from a solution of monomer, lithium salt, and cross-linker. The solution wets the cathode active material and the anode active material such that the polymerized non-flammable quasi-solid-state electrolyte impregnates the cathode active material and the anode active material. The manufacturing procedures are compatible with production methods of Li-ion batteries, such as drop casting, impregnating, injecting, and printing.