Shear Thickening Electrolyte for Impact Resistant Batteries
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Advanced energy storage batteries face issues with impact resistance, leading to electrical shorting and potential fires due to the penetration of battery compartments, which limits market penetration and consumer confidence.
Innovation Solution
A passively impact resistant composite electrolyte composition is developed, comprising an aprotic electrolyte solvent, shear thickening ceramic particles with specific size and zeta potential, and a stabilizing surfactant that adsorbs to the particles and is soluble in the solvent, preventing electrical shorting by forming a solid barrier upon impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protective shrouds are designed to prevent penetration, then battery compartment safety is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for separate protective shrouds by integrating impact resistance directly into the electrolyte composition. The electrolyte itself becomes the protective element through its shear thickening properties, eliminating the need for additional protective structures around the battery compartment.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrolyte's physical properties are changed by incorporating shear thickening particles that cause the viscosity to dramatically increase under impact conditions. This parameter change allows the electrolyte to transition from a fluid state during normal operation to a semi-solid barrier during impact, providing protection without additional structural components.
2Reliability
If shear thickening particles are added to electrolyte, then impact resistance is improved, but particle flocculation occurs reducing stability
Solution Approach 1:
A surfactant is introduced as an intermediary substance between the shear thickening particles and the electrolyte solvent. The surfactant adsorbs onto the particle surfaces and provides steric stabilization, preventing particle flocculation while allowing the particles to maintain their shear thickening functionality. This mediator enables long-term stable dispersion of particles in the electrolyte.
3Reliability
If particle size is reduced to prevent shorting, then impact protection is improved, but particle aggregation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surfactant acts as a protective intermediary around small particles, creating a steric barrier that prevents aggregation. This allows the use of smaller particles (50-500 nm) that are effective at preventing electrical shorting during impact, while the surfactant coating maintains their individual dispersion and prevents them from clumping together.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite electrolyte system combining shear thickening particles, surfactant, and electrolyte solvent. This composite approach allows the small particles to provide impact protection and shorting prevention while the surfactant component counteracts the tendency toward aggregation, achieving both goals simultaneously.
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 effectively prevents electrical shorting and thermal runaway by increasing the viscosity of the electrolyte upon impact, providing enhanced safety and stability for energy storage batteries.
Implementation Method 1
The stabilizing surfactant includes a first portion for adsorbing to the particles
Implementation Method 2
shear thickening particles having a polydispersity index of no greater than 0.1, an average particle size in a range of 50 nm to 1 um
Implementation Method 3
The shear thickening particles have thereon an electrochemical double layer. The composition further includes a stabilizing surfactant
Data Source
AI summary
A passively impact resistant composite electrolyte composition includes an aprotic electrolyte solvent, from 0.5 to 6M of an electrolyte salt, and shear thickening particles having a polydispersity index of no greater than 0.1, an average particle size in a range of 50 nm to 1 um, and an absolute zeta potential of greater than ±40 mV. The shear thickening particles have thereon an electrochemical double layer. The composition further includes a stabilizing surfactant. The stabilizing surfactant includes a first portion for adsorbing to the particles, and a second portion that is absorbed in the solvent. The length of the surfactant from the first portion to the second portion is greater than twice the thickness of the electrochemical double layer. Batteries and electrochemical devices incorporating the electrolyte composition are disclosed. Methods of making the electrolyte composition and of operating a battery are also disclosed.