Siloxane-Based Electrolyte for High-Conductivity Lithium Batteries

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium batteries face challenges with the volatility, flammability, and chemical reactivity of organic carbonate solvents in their electrolytes, and siloxane-based electrolytes have limited conductivity, restricting their application to low-rate uses.

Innovation Solution

A battery electrolyte is developed that includes a solvent with a combination of siloxanes and silanes, where the siloxanes have poly(alkylene oxide) and cyclic carbonate moieties, enhancing ionic conductivity and reducing viscosity, and optionally includes organic solvents to improve high-rate performance while maintaining safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If organic carbonate solvents are used, then ionic conductivity is improved, but safety deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveionic conductivityVSAvoidvolatility, flammability, and chemical reactivity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by incorporating carbonate moieties as specific functional groups within the larger siloxane-based molecular structure. This allows the electrolyte to have localized regions of high ionic conductivity (from carbonate groups) while the overall siloxane structure maintains safety properties, avoiding the harmful effects of pure organic carbonate solvents.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The siloxane backbone acts as an intermediary structure that connects and integrates the beneficial properties of carbonate groups (high conductivity) while mitigating their harmful effects (volatility and flammability). The siloxane framework mediates between the conductivity requirements and safety constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 electrolyte achieves higher ionic conductivity, improved electrode wetting, and enhanced cycling performance, enabling higher capacity and safety in lithium batteries.

Implementation Method 1

enhancing ionic conductivity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonic conductivity: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

reducing viscosity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscosity reduction:

Implementation Method 3

improved electrode wetting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrode wetting: Wetting

Data Source

PatentUS8153307B1Battery including electrolyte with mixed solvent

Publication Date: 2012.04.10 QUALLION LLC

AI summary

A battery is disclosed. The battery includes an electrolyte activating one or more anodes and one or more cathodes. The electrolyte includes one or more salts dissolved in a solvent. The solvent includes one or more first siloxanes and/or one or more first silanes. Each of the first siloxanes and/or first silanes have one or more first substituents that each include a poly(alkylene oxide) moiety. The solvent also includes one or more second siloxanes and/or one or more second silanes. Each of the second siloxanes and/or second silanes have one or more second substituents that each include a carbonate moiety.