Single-Ion Conducting Polymer Electrolytes via Thiol-Ene Grafting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium metal batteries face issues with dendrite growth due to uneven lithium ion re-plating, leading to performance degradation and short circuits, and existing single-ion conducting polymer electrolytes have limitations in conductivity and mechanical properties.
Innovation Solution
A method for producing single-ion conducting polymers by grafting thiol functionalized conductor compounds onto polymers using a thiol-ene 'click' reaction, which improves conductivity and is scalable and safe, eliminating the need for heating steps and requiring widely available alkene groups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If solid polymer electrolyte is used to resist pressure applied to lithium metal anode, then mechanical strength is improved, but dendrites can still grow to penetrate the electrolyte causing short circuits and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the polymer electrolyte by incorporating specific additives and co-electrolytes that modify the electrolyte's properties to suppress dendrite growth while maintaining mechanical strength. This resolves the contradiction by adjusting material parameters to achieve both strength and reliability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite polymer electrolyte system combining multiple components including primary electrolyte, co-electrolyte, and additive packages. This composite approach enables the electrolyte to provide both mechanical strength for pressure resistance and chemical properties for dendrite suppression, resolving the reliability-strength contradiction.
2Reliability
If conventional polymer post functionalization methods are used to synthesize single-ion conducting polymers, then conductivity is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to multiple reaction steps and specialized groups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for complex multi-step functionalization reactions by using a simplified synthesis approach that directly produces single-ion conducting polymers from commercially available polymers through a single grafting step, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining high conductivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a universal synthesis method using thiol-ene click chemistry that can be applied to various commercially available polymers with different backbones (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, etc.), making the process broadly applicable and simplifying manufacturing across different polymer systems while achieving high conductivity.
3Productivity
If azide-alkyne click chemistry is used for post functionalization, then reaction efficiency is improved, but safety deteriorates due to use of sodium azide which is dangerous and hard to handle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hazardous azide-alkyne click chemistry with a safer thiol-ene click chemistry approach. The thiol-ene reaction achieves comparable or superior efficiency while eliminating the safety hazards associated with sodium azide, effectively converting a harmful process into a beneficial safe alternative.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses readily available, non-hazardous reagents (thiols and alkenes) that can be easily handled and disposed of, replacing the expensive and dangerous sodium azide. This substitution maintains reaction efficiency while eliminating safety concerns and reducing handling complexity in manufacturing.
4Ease of manufacture
If LiTFSI monomers are synthesized to reduce cost and improve atom economy, then manufacturing cost is improved, but glass transition temperature increases and conductivity decreases at room temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of cost-effective LiTFSI monomer synthesis with improved conductivity by combining these monomers with specific co-electrolytes and additives. This combination approach maintains the cost benefits while compensating for the high Tg and low conductivity issues through synergistic effects of the electrolyte mixture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the electrolyte composition parameters by incorporating co-electrolytes and additives that lower the effective glass transition temperature and enhance ionic conductivity at room temperature, while maintaining the cost advantages of the LiTFSI-based synthesis approach.
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 approach results in single-ion conducting polymers with enhanced conductivity and stability, reducing dendrite growth and improving the performance and cycle life of lithium metal batteries.
Implementation Method 1
grafting a thiol functionalized conductor compound onto a polymer compound to obtain a single-ion conducting polymer
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology relates to a method for producing a single-ion conducting polymer comprising grafting a thiol functionalized conductor compound onto a polymer compound to obtain the single-ion conducting polymer. In certain embodiments, the thiol functionalized conductor compound can be grafted onto polymers having low Tg which result in single-ion conducting polymers having improved conductivity.