Sn-Containing Sulfide Solid Electrolyte Without Heat Treatment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing Sn-containing sulfide solid electrolytes face challenges such as high energy costs, impurity generation due to sulfur volatilization, and grain growth during heat treatment, which hinder the production of a solid electrolyte with desired composition and high ionic conductivity.

Innovation Solution

A method involving mechanical milling of a raw material mixture containing Li, Sn, and P elements without subsequent heat treatment, under specific conditions, to produce a Sn-containing sulfide solid electrolyte with improved ionic conductivity and a novel crystal structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If heat treatment is performed after mechanical milling to produce Sn-containing sulfide solid electrolyte, then the solid electrolyte can be obtained, but energy cost increases and impurities are generated due to sulfur volatilization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction of solid electrolyteVSAvoidenergy cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the heat treatment step from the production process, keeping only the mechanical milling step. This eliminates the energy-consuming heat treatment while still achieving the desired solid electrolyte product through optimized mechanical milling parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent skips the heat treatment step entirely by optimizing the mechanical milling process to directly produce the solid electrolyte with desired properties, thereby avoiding energy loss and impurity generation associated with heating.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

2Reliability

If heat treatment is performed after mechanical milling to produce Sn-containing sulfide solid electrolyte, then the solid electrolyte can be obtained, but impurities are generated due to sulfur volatilization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction of solid electrolyteVSAvoidimpurity generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the heat treatment step that causes sulfur volatilization and impurity generation, relying instead on optimized mechanical milling to produce the solid electrolyte without harmful byproducts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If heat treatment is performed after mechanical milling to produce Sn-containing sulfide solid electrolyte, then the solid electrolyte can be obtained, but grain growth occurs which affects the desired composition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction of solid electrolyteVSAvoidcomposition control
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the heat treatment step that causes unwanted grain growth, using only mechanical milling to produce the solid electrolyte with controlled and desired composition without grain growth issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If mechanical milling is performed at high rotation speed for long duration to improve ionic conductivity, then ionic conductivity increases, but production time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveionic conductivityVSAvoidproduction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the mechanical milling parameters (rotation speed, duration, ball-to-powder ratio) to achieve the desired ionic conductivity with minimal processing time and energy consumption, finding the optimal balance between product quality and production efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 method enables the production of a Sn-containing sulfide solid electrolyte with high lithium ion conductivity, reduced costs, and enhanced safety without the need for heat treatment, addressing issues of impurity generation and grain growth.

Implementation Method 1

subjecting the raw material mixture to a mechanical milling treatment to obtain a Sn-containing sulfide solid electrolyte

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical milling: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP4685820A1Method for producing sn-containing sulfide solid electrolyte and sn-containing sulfide solid electrolyte
Publication Date: 2026.01.28 MITSUBISHI GAS CHEM CO INC
  • EP4685820A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4685820A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4685820A1 patent drawing

AI summary

According to one embodiment, there is provided a method for producing a Sn-containing sulfide solid electrolyte, the method comprising: preparing a raw material mixture containing a Li element, a Sn element, a P element and a S element; and subjecting the raw material mixture to a mechanical milling treatment to obtain a Sn-containing sulfide solid electrolyte, wherein a heat treatment is not carried out after the mechanical milling treatment.