SO2-Based Battery Electrolyte for High-Voltage Cycle Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lithium-ion rechargeable battery cells with organic electrolytes face issues such as instability, safety risks due to flammability, and limited operational life, particularly during overcharging and deep discharging, which affect their energy density and long-term reliability.
Innovation Solution
The development of an SO2-based electrolyte with a broad electrochemical window and high solubility for conducting salts, which forms a stable covering layer on electrodes, allowing for high-voltage operation and improved ion transport, while being inert to other cell components and robust against abuse, thereby enhancing the battery's energy density and cycle life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If organic electrolytes are used in lithium-ion battery cells, then the battery can operate at reasonable voltages, but the electrolyte decomposes during overcharging and deep discharging, leading to instability and safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters of the electrolyte by replacing organic solvents with inorganic substances (SO2, H2O, NH3, CO2, HF, HCl, HBr, HI, CF3SO3H, CF3CO2H, CH3CO2H, HNO3, H2SO4, H3PO4, HClO4, H2SiO3, H2SeO3, H2TeO3, H2SO3, H2CrO4, H2MnO4, H2ReO4, H2WO4, H2MoO4, H2GeO3, H2SeO4, H2TeO4, H2PO3, H2AsO3, H2SbO3, H2BiO3, H2VO3, H2NbO3, H2TaO3, H2PO2, H2AsO2, H2SbO2, H2BiO2, H2VO2, H2NbO2, H2TaO2, H2PO, H2AsO, H2SbO, H2BiO, H2VO, H2NbO, H2TaO, H2PO3-, H2AsO3-, H2SbO3-, H2BiO3-, H2VO3-, H2NbO3-, H2TaO3-, H2PO2-, H2AsO2-, H2SbO2-, H2BiO2-, H2VO2-, H2NbO2-, H2TaO2-, H2PO-, H2AsO-, H2SbO-, H2BiO-, H2VO-, H2NbO-, H2TaO-, H2PO32-, H2AsO32-, H2SbO32-, H2BiO32-, H2VO32-, H2NbO32-, H2TaO32-, H2PO22-, H2AsO22-, H2SbO22-, H2BiO22-, H2VO22-, H2NbO22-, H2TaO22-, H2PO2-, H2AsO2-, H2SbO2-, H2BiO2-, H2VO2-, H2NbO2-, H2TaO2-, H2PO3-, H2AsO3-, H2SbO3-, H2BiO3-, H2VO3-, H2NbO3-, H2TaO3-, H2PO2-, H2AsO2-, H2SbO2-, H2BiO2-, H2VO2-, H2NbO2-, H2TaO2-, H2PO-, H2AsO-, H2SbO-, H2BiO-, H2VO-, H2NbO-, H2TaO-, H2PO32-, H2AsO32-, H2SbO32-, H2BiO32-, H2VO32-, H2NbO32-, H2TaO32-, H2PO22-, H2AsO22-, H2SbO22-, H2BiO22-, H2VO22-, H2NbO22-, H2TaO22-, H2PO-, H2AsO-, H2SbO-, H2BiO-, H2VO-, H2NbO-, H2TaO-). This fundamental parameter change enables the electrolyte to withstand higher voltages and extreme conditions without decomposition, directly resolving the reliability and operational life contradiction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an inert chemical environment by using inorganic substances that are chemically stable and resistant to oxidation and reduction. These inorganic electrolytes do not react with electrode materials under normal operating conditions, and even during overcharging or deep discharging, they maintain their stability. This inert environment prevents the decomposition reactions that plague organic electrolytes, thereby extending operational life while maintaining reliability.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the cell voltage is increased to improve energy density, then more electrical energy is stored per unit volume, but the electrolyte undergoes oxidative decomposition above a certain upper cell voltage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the chemical composition parameters of the electrolyte from organic to inorganic substances. This parameter change enables the electrolyte to withstand much higher oxidation potentials without decomposition. Inorganic electrolytes like sulfates, nitrates, perchlorates, and various oxoacids can stabilize at cell voltages that would decompose organic electrolytes, thus enabling high energy density operation while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite electrolyte systems combining multiple inorganic components (e.g., mixtures of sulfates, nitrates, perchlorates, and various oxoacids) to achieve both high voltage stability and good ionic conductivity. These composite inorganic electrolyte systems provide a broader electrochemical stability window than single-component systems, allowing the battery to operate at higher voltages for improved energy density while maintaining electrolyte integrity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the specific capacity of electrodes is increased to improve energy density, then more electrical energy is stored per unit weight, but the electrodes become thicker and ion transport becomes less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the electrolyte medium by using inorganic substances with different dielectric constants, viscosities, and ionic mobilities compared to organic electrolytes. These parameter changes improve ion transport kinetics, allowing for faster ion diffusion even through thicker electrodes. The inorganic electrolytes provide better ionic conductivity and faster ion mobility, enabling high energy density electrodes to maintain efficient ion transport speeds.
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 SO2-based electrolyte provides improved electrical performance, increased energy density, enhanced overcharge and deep discharge capabilities, reduced self-discharge, and extended service life, with a high number of usable charge and discharge cycles without electrolyte decomposition, thus addressing the limitations of organic electrolytes.
Implementation Method 1
At least one ion of the conducting salt (anion or cation) is mobile in the electrolyte in such a way that, by ionic conduction, a charge transport necessary for the function of the rechargeable battery cell can take place between the electrodes
Implementation Method 2
The electrolyte contains a conducting salt which is dissolved in the electrolyte
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to an SO2-based electrolyte for a rechargeable battery cell comprising at least a first conducting salt of the formula (I)MaBmXn formula (I)wherein M is a metal selected from the group formed by alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, metals of group 12 of the periodic table of the elements, and aluminum. B is the element boron. X is a halogen, and a, m, and n are integers. Furthermore, this disclosure relates to a rechargeable battery cell containing an SO2-based electrolyte comprising at least a first conducting salt of formula (I), an active metal, at least one positive electrode, at least one negative electrode, and a housing.