Silicone-Modified Electrochemical Separator Film

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electrochemical separators used in energy storage devices, such as batteries, face challenges with stability, fire retardance, wettability, and high impedance, particularly at high temperatures and in high voltage applications, limiting their performance and safety.

Innovation Solution

A composition comprising a thermoplastic resin and a silicone masterbatch, specifically designed to enhance the properties of electrochemical films, including dimensional stability, flammability, and water vapor transmission rate, is used to create an improved electrochemical separator with improved thermal stability and safety features.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If conventional polyolefin materials are used for separators, then manufacturing ease is improved, but thermal stability and fire retardance deteriorate at high temperatures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidthermal stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials by combining polyolefin base material with ceramic coatings and silicone additives to create a separator that maintains the ease of manufacture of conventional materials while achieving superior thermal stability and fire retardance through the synergistic properties of the composite structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Temperature

If ceramic coating is applied to improve thermal stability, then temperature resistance is improved, but impedance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal stabilityVSAvoidimpedance

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by using ceramic coatings only on specific surfaces or regions of the separator where thermal stability is most needed, while maintaining the low-impedance polyolefin structure in the bulk material and other regions, thus achieving thermal stability without excessive impedance increase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes the parameters of the ceramic coating including thickness, composition ratio, and pore structure to achieve the right balance between thermal stability and impedance, using controlled amounts of ceramic particles and silicone additives to minimize impedance while maximizing temperature resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If separator materials are optimized for high voltage applications, then reliability is improved, but wettability with electrolytes deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidwettability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses silicone compounds as intermediary substances that bridge between the hydrophobic polyolefin/ceramic matrix and the electrolyte, improving wettability through the amphoteric nature of silicone which can interact with both polar and non-polar substances, thus enabling better electrolyte contact without compromising the high-voltage reliability of the separator structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20230125875A1Compositions comprising silicone, articles, devices, and method of making thereof

Publication Date: 2023.04.27 MOMENTIVE PERFORMANCE MATERIALS INC

AI summary

A composition comprising at least one thermoplastic resin and a silicone-masterbatch, articles comprising the compositions, devices comprising the articles, and processes for preparing the article. The compositions are suitable for use as part of or as a separator material for use in an electrochemical device. The composition is used to prepare a film, a membrane, a matrix, a resin, a coating, or a paint, etc., which can be employed as a separator or to coat or form part of a layer of a separator material useful in a device such as an electrical storage device such as, for example, a battery, a fuel cell, a capacitor, etc.