Shear-Thickening Battery Electrolyte for Transient Short Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The stability and safety of electrolyte systems in batteries are compromised by volatility and flammability, leading to thermal and electrical transients due to electrical shorts between the cathode and anode, which release large amounts of energy spontaneously.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a transducer to selectively activate shear thickening particles in the electrolyte composition, converting electrical energy into mechanical energy to increase the viscosity of the electrolyte, thereby enhancing safety by reducing ionic conductivity and stabilizing the electrolyte during transient events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the electrolyte composition uses a standard low-viscosity formulation to ensure good ionic conductivity, then the battery achieves high efficiency and performance, but the electrolyte becomes volatile and flammable, leading to safety hazards during thermal and electrical transients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the electrolyte by incorporating shear-thickening particles that alter viscosity dynamically. Under normal conditions, the electrolyte maintains low viscosity for good ionic conductivity. During thermal or electrical transients, the shear-thickening particles increase viscosity in response to stress, thereby suppressing harmful effects like flammability and volatility without sacrificing normal operational performance
Solution Approach 2:
The electrolyte composition transitions from a static viscosity state to a dynamic one. The shear-thickening particles enable the electrolyte to adapt its viscosity based on applied stress or shear rate. This dynamic response allows the electrolyte to remain fluid during normal operation but become more viscous and stable during safety-critical events, resolving the contradiction between performance and safety
2Reliability
If the viscosity of the electrolyte is increased to reduce ionic conductivity and improve safety, then the electrolyte becomes more stable and less flammable, but the ionic conductivity decreases, reducing battery efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The shear-thickening particles provide periodic or conditional action rather than continuous resistance. During normal operation with low shear rates, the electrolyte flows freely with high ionic conductivity. During transient events with high shear rates, the particles activate and increase viscosity temporarily. This conditional behavior maintains productivity during normal use while ensuring stability when needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in the electrolyte's rheological properties through shear-thickening particles. The viscosity parameter changes dynamically based on shear rate rather than remaining fixed. This allows the electrolyte to exhibit low viscosity (high conductivity) during normal operation and high viscosity (low conductivity) during transient events, resolving the trade-off between productivity and reliability
3Reliability
If shear thickening particles are added to the electrolyte composition to enable viscosity increase during transients, then safety is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and activation mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The shear-thickening particles provide self-service functionality by automatically responding to thermal or electrical transients without requiring external control systems. When stress or shear rate increases during a transient event, the particles inherently increase viscosity through their physical properties. This passive, self-activating mechanism avoids the need for complex sensors, controllers, or activation systems, thereby maintaining simplicity while improving safety
Solution Approach 2:
The shear-thickening particles act as an intermediary between the electrolyte and the transient stress. Rather than requiring a complex control system to detect and respond to transients, the particles directly sense the stress through shear rate changes and mediate the response by adjusting viscosity. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system architecture while achieving the desired safety enhancement
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 system effectively increases electrolyte viscosity upon detection of potential hazards, mitigating thermal and electrical transients, thus improving the safety and stability of electrochemical cells.
Implementation Method 1
a transducer disposed proximate to the electrolyte composition. The transducer is configured to be selectively activated to deliver an amount of energy to the electrolyte composition to cause the plurality of shear thickening particles to increase viscosity of the electrolyte composition
Implementation Method 2
The electrolyte composition includes an electrolyte solvent, an electrolyte salt, and a plurality of shear thickening particles configured to increase viscosity of the electrolyte composition upon receiving an energy
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments described herein relate to a system including an electrochemical cell assembly including an electrolyte composition, and a transducer disposed proximate to the electrolyte composition. The transducer is configured to be selectively activated to deliver an amount of energy to the electrolyte composition to increase a shear thickening of the electrolyte composition. The electrolyte composition includes an electrolyte solvent, an electrolyte salt, and shear thickening particles.