Silanated Silica-Ceramic Composite for Battery Electrolyte Interfaces

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current lithium ion batteries face challenges with brittle ceramic electrolytes that are prone to fracture and high interfacial resistance, and polymer electrolytes have low ionic conductivity and poor dendrite resistance, limiting their adoption in commercial batteries.

Innovation Solution

A composite material comprising a ceramic portion, a metal oxide portion, and a coupling agent covalently bonded to the metal oxide, which forms a nanometer-thick layer to enhance adhesion and conductivity between ceramic and polymer components, reducing interfacial resistance and preventing dendrite growth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ceramic electrolytes are used, then ionic conductivity and lithium ion transference numbers are improved, but mechanical brittleness and fracture energy worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveionic conductivityVSAvoidmechanical brittleness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite material system consisting of ceramic electrolyte particles embedded in a polymer matrix. The ceramic portion (e.g., LLZO, LATP) provides high ionic conductivity and single-ion conduction properties, while the polymer matrix (e.g., PEO, PVDF-HFP) provides mechanical flexibility and ductility. This composite structure allows the material to simultaneously achieve the electrical performance of ceramics and the mechanical properties of polymers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If ceramic electrolytes are used, then lithium ion transference number is improved, but interfacial resistance worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelithium ion transference numberVSAvoidinterfacial resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the local properties at the ceramic-polymer interface by incorporating surface treatments on ceramic particles and selecting polymer matrices with specific functional groups. The interface region is engineered to have enhanced lithium ion conductivity through careful selection of ceramic surface chemistry and polymer composition, creating a conductive interfacial layer that reduces resistance while maintaining the bulk ceramic's high transference number.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Strength

If polymer electrolytes are used, then mechanical flexibility and adhesion are improved, but ionic conductivity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical flexibilityVSAvoidionic conductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If polymer electrolytes are used, then adhesion to electrodes is improved, but dendrite resistance worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhesion to electrodesVSAvoiddendrite growth resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates local regions with different properties: the polymer matrix provides adhesion to electrodes through its flexible nature and ability to conform to electrode surfaces, while the ceramic particles distributed throughout the matrix provide dendrite resistance through their high modulus and single-ion conduction properties. This spatial differentiation of functions allows simultaneous achievement of adhesion and dendrite suppression.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 high ionic conductivity, low interfacial resistance, and improved mechanical flexibility, enhancing the safety and performance of lithium ion batteries by preventing dendrite-induced failures and corrosion of ceramic components.

Implementation Method 1

a coupling agent covalently bonded to the metal oxide

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCovalent bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

high ionic conductivity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonic conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS11387520B2Silanated silica-ceramic materials, and methods of making and using the same

Publication Date: 2022.07.12 TEMPLE UNIV

AI summary

The invention provides a novel ceramic-metal oxide-polymer composite material. A functionalized metal oxide nanolayer coating can be bonded between LICGCs and polymers/oligomers, which protects the LICGC from corrosion, has a low interfacial resistance to Li+ migration, and can be a SIC. Hybrid ceramic-polymer electrolytes were formed by engineering the interface between a LICGC and a polymer, polyethylene oxide (PEO), by sputter coating a 200 nm thick SiO2 layer onto a lithium ion conducting glass ceramic (LICGC) and silanating the SiO2 with a functionalized PEG in the presence of LiTFSI. A low interfacial resistance (Rinterfacial) was measured, the same as that obtained for a SiO2 interface soaked with liquid tetraglyme/LiTFSI. The pegylated SiO2 interface (unlike the tetraglyme/LiTFSI interface) protected the LICGC from corrosion by Li0 metal. The (PEG-LiTFSI)—SiO2-LICGC could be bonded with polyethylene oxide/LiTFSI. This procedure provides a general method to bond other LICGCs to PEO-based polymers, and to incorporate other functionalities such as single ion conductivity into the interface via the incorporation of coupling agents with pendant anions.