Separator with Amine-Functionalized Particles for Acid Adsorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion batteries face performance and safety issues due to acidic substances produced during the operation, which lead to irreversible capacity loss and increased internal pressure, affecting their cycling and safety performance.
Innovation Solution
A separator comprising a porous substrate with functional particles having an —NH— or —NH2 group outer layer, filled within the substrate's pores and encapsulated by a coating layer, effectively adsorbs acidic substances, improving the battery's performance without increasing the separator's thickness, thus maintaining energy density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional porous substrate is used as separator, then the battery structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but acidic substances accumulate causing poor cycling performance and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is constructed as a composite structure combining a porous substrate with functional particles (oxides with —NH— or —NH2 group outer layers) filled in the pores and a coating layer on the surfaces. This composite design enables the separator to adsorb acidic substances while maintaining structural integrity and electrochemical performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The separator utilizes a porous substrate with controlled pore structure that accommodates functional particles. The porous structure allows electrolyte penetration and ion transport while the filled functional particles provide acid adsorption capacity without blocking the pores completely.
2Reliability
If functional particles are added to adsorb acidic substances, then acid content is reduced and cycling performance improves, but the separator thickness increases
Solution Approach 1:
Functional particles are selectively placed only within the internal pores of the porous substrate rather than uniformly throughout the separator. This localized placement ensures acid adsorption functionality is concentrated where it is most needed while minimizing the overall thickness increase of the separator.
Solution Approach 2:
The functional particles are nested within the pores of the porous substrate, and the entire structure is further encapsulated by a coating layer on both surfaces. This nested arrangement maximizes the use of available space within the separator structure without proportionally increasing thickness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If functional particles are filled in the pores, then acidic substances are adsorbed effectively, but the pore structure may be blocked reducing ion transport
Solution Approach 1:
The separator employs a porous substrate with sufficient pore volume and appropriate pore size distribution that can accommodate functional particles while maintaining adequate open porosity for ion transport. The porous structure ensures that functional particles are distributed throughout the pore network rather than forming dense blocks.
Solution Approach 2:
The pore size, porosity, and functional particle size are optimized within specific ranges to balance acid adsorption capacity and ion transport efficiency. By controlling these parameters, the separator achieves effective acid removal while maintaining sufficient pathways for lithium ion conduction.
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 separator reduces acid content, enhances electrolyte wettability, and improves liquid retention, leading to better cycling and safety performance of lithium-ion batteries without compromising energy density.
Implementation Method 1
The —NH— or —NH2 group in the outer layer of functional particles may effectively adsorb the acidic substances inside the lithium-ion battery, thereby reducing the acid content
Implementation Method 2
the hydrophilic group in the outer layer of the functional particles may improve the wettability of the electrolyte, increase the lithium-ion channel, and improve the liquid retention rate of the separator
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a separator and a battery. The separator includes a porous substrate, functional particles, and a coating layer. The functional particles are filled up in internal pores of the porous substrate, and the coating layer is arranged on the upper and lower surface of the porous substrate; the functional particles are oxides of which the outer layers comprise —NH or —NH2 groups. As the functional particles are contained in the separator, the —NH— or —NH2 groups can effectively adsorb an acidic substance in a lithium ion battery; the acid content in the lithium ion battery is reduced, and hydrophilic groups on the outer layers of the functional particles can improve the wettability of an electrolyte, increase lithium ion channels, and improve a liquid retention rate of the separator. Therefore, the separator provided in the present disclosure can improve cycling performance and safety performance.