Screen-Printable Ionogel Electrolytes for Solid-State Batteries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solid-state electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries face challenges such as low ionic conductivity, high interfacial resistance, and cumbersome processing, limiting their practical application, particularly in scalable additive manufacturing methods like screen printing.
Innovation Solution
Development of a screen-printable ionogel electrolyte ink comprising hexagonal boron nitride nanoplatelets mixed with an imidazolium ionic liquid in ethyl lactate, which exhibits tunable viscosity and high ionic conductivity, enabling the fabrication of mechanically flexible and stable solid-state lithium-ion batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional solid-state electrolytes (inorganics and polymers) are used, then safety concerns are addressed and leakage issues are eliminated, but ionic conductivity is low and processing is cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses composite materials by combining ionic liquids with gelling agents to create ionogel electrolytes. This composite approach maintains the safety benefits of solid-state electrolytes while achieving liquid-like ionic conductivity and enabling screen-printable processing through controlled viscosity and rheological properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of the electrolyte system by using ionic liquids with specific viscosity ranges (10-1000 cP) and incorporating gelling agents at controlled concentrations. These parameter adjustments enable the electrolyte to be processed via screen printing while maintaining high ionic conductivity and safety.
2Productivity
If ionic liquids are blended with solid matrices to create ionogel electrolytes, then ionic conductivity and thermal stability are improved, but processing methods for scalable additive manufacturing are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the viscosity and rheological parameters of the ionogel electrolyte ink to fall within specific ranges that enable screen-printable processing. By controlling the ionic liquid-to-gelling agent ratio and adding solvents, the electrolyte achieves liquid-like flow properties during printing while maintaining solid-like mechanical stability after deposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses solvents as intermediaries to temporarily reduce the viscosity of the ionogel electrolyte, enabling it to flow through screen meshes during printing. The solvents evaporate after deposition, leaving behind the functional ionogel electrolyte with its original high ionic conductivity and mechanical properties.
3Productivity
If screen printing is used for electrolyte deposition, then additive manufacturing benefits are achieved with minimized materials waste, but ink viscosity must be precisely controlled to pass through screen mesh without undesired spreading
Solution Approach 1:
The invention precisely controls the viscosity parameter of the ionogel electrolyte ink by adjusting the composition ratios of ionic liquids, gelling agents, and solvents. This enables the ink to have sufficiently low viscosity to pass through screen meshes while maintaining sufficiently high viscosity to minimize undesired spreading, achieving optimal screen-printable rheological properties.
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 screen-printable ionogel electrolytes achieve high room-temperature ionic conductivities and mechanical moduli, ensuring high cycling stability, rate performance, and mechanical resilience against bending and external forces, facilitating scalable and sustainable energy storage solutions.
Implementation Method 1
By blending ionic liquids with solid matrices, immobilization and gelation is induced, resulting in a mechanically flexible solid-state electrolyte
Implementation Method 2
Ionogel electrolytes, which are composite electrolytes based on ionic liquids and gelling solid matrices, have attracted significant interest due to their potential to overcome these challenges
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the invention relates to an ionogel electrolyte ink including an ionic liquid; and a gelling matrix material. The gelling matrix material is mixed with the ionic liquid in at least one solvent.