Organic-Inorganic Silicon Block Copolymer Electrolyte for Lithium Batteries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium batteries with polymer electrolytes, particularly those using polyethylene oxide, face challenges with low ion conductivity at room temperature, poor mechanical properties, and limited electrochemical stability, which hinder their performance in electric vehicles requiring high temperature operation and long lifespan.
Innovation Solution
Development of organic-inorganic silicon structure-containing block copolymers with ion conductive and non-conductive polymer blocks, where the organic-inorganic silicon structure is covalently connected to a side chain of the non-conducting polymer, enhancing mechanical strength and ion conductivity, and used in electrolytes and lithium batteries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polyethylene oxide (PEO) is used as polymer electrolyte, then ion conductivity is improved at high temperature, but ion conductivity decreases significantly at room temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by incorporating inorganic silicon oxide particles into the PEO polymer matrix. This composite structure combines the high ion conductivity of PEO at elevated temperatures with the thermal stability and structural integrity of silicon oxide, enabling the electrolyte to maintain acceptable ion conductivity across a broader temperature range including room temperature
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the polymer electrolyte by controlling the molecular weight of PEO, the concentration of lithium salt, and the amount of silicon oxide additive. These parameter changes optimize the balance between ion conductivity and mechanical properties at different temperatures, improving room temperature performance while maintaining high temperature capability
2Use of energy by moving object
If polymer electrolyte including PEO is used, then high energy density is achieved, but mechanical properties deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The incorporation of inorganic silicon oxide particles creates a composite electrolyte structure where the rigid inorganic phase reinforces the soft polymer matrix. This composite approach maintains the high energy density benefits of PEO-based electrolytes while significantly improving mechanical strength and dimensional stability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the mechanical reinforcement function from the polymer matrix itself and assigns it to the inorganic silicon oxide filler. This separation of functions allows the PEO phase to focus on ion conduction and energy storage while the silicon oxide phase provides structural support, resolving the contradiction between energy density and mechanical properties
3Power
If polymer electrolyte including PEO is used, then high voltage operation is enabled, but electrochemical stability deteriorates below 3.8V
Solution Approach 1:
The silicon oxide particles are distributed throughout the polymer matrix to create localized regions of enhanced electrochemical stability. These localized modifications allow the electrolyte to maintain stability at lower voltages while still enabling high voltage operation overall, as the silicon oxide-rich regions prevent degradation reactions that would otherwise limit electrochemical stability
Data Source
AI summary
An organic-inorganic silicon structure-containing block copolymer including a first domain including an ion conductive polymer block; and a second domain including a polymer block including a non-conducting polymer and an organic-inorganic silicon structure, wherein the organic-inorganic silicon structure is connected to a side chain connected to a backbone of the non-conducting polymer.