Soft-solid crystalline electrolyte co-crystals for battery ion conduction
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current solid state electrolytes for electrochemical devices, such as lithium and sodium batteries, face challenges including low room temperature ionic conductivities, poor adhesion to electrodes, and volume changes during charge/discharge cycles, which affect their performance and stability.
Innovation Solution
Development of soft-solid electrolyte compositions comprising co-crystals of ionic compounds and organic compounds with ion channels, formed through methods involving precipitation or cooling of solutions, which provide high ionic conductivities and flexibility, and can be integrated with binders like PEO or POSS-PEG8 to create free-standing thin films.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If ceramic/glass inorganic superionic conductors are used, then ionic conductivity is improved (10^-3 to 10^-2 S/cm), but brittleness and poor adhesion to electrodes worsen due to volume changes during charge/discharge cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining organic compounds (providing flexibility and adhesion) with inorganic ionic conductors (providing high ionic conductivity). This composite structure allows the electrolyte to maintain mechanical flexibility and electrode adhesion while achieving high ionic conductivity comparable to ceramic/glass electrolytes.
2Strength
If soft-solid electrolytes are used, then mechanical flexibility and adhesion are improved, but ionic conductivity deteriorates (10^-7 to 10^-5 S/cm)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials combining organic matrices with inorganic ionic conductors to achieve both mechanical flexibility and high ionic conductivity, overcoming the limitation of conventional soft-solid electrolytes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by creating specific regions within the soft-solid electrolyte that are enriched with ionic conductors, allowing high ionic conductivity in specific pathways while maintaining the overall mechanical flexibility of the soft-solid matrix.
3Reliability
If crystalline structures are used, then ionic conductivity is improved, but brittleness worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the electrolyte from rigid crystalline to soft-solid by incorporating organic compounds, thereby reducing mechanical brittleness while maintaining high ionic conductivity through the crystalline-like ordered structures within the soft matrix.
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 resulting electrolytes exhibit high ionic conductivities exceeding 10^-5 S/cm, are temperature-independent, and maintain stability and adhesion to electrodes, enhancing the performance of electrochemical devices.
Implementation Method 1
new materials with architectures that foster enhanced ion migration over a wide temperature range are needed
Implementation Method 2
adding a precipitating agent to the solution, wherein a co-crystal of the ionic compound and the organic compound is precipitated from the solution
Implementation Method 3
reducing the temperature of the solution, wherein a co-crystal of the ionic compound and the organic compound is precipitated from the solution upon cooling
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to compositions comprising ionic compounds surrounded by organic matrices, and methods for producing such compositions. In various embodiments, the compositions of the present invention are co-crystals of an organic compound and a salt. The organic compound forms matrices with channel structures, wherein the organic matrices interact relatively poorly with the salt, thus allowing for excellent ion mobility through the channel structures. In one embodiment, the compositions are soft-solid electrolytes, comprising ions such as lithium or sodium, which can be used in batteries or other electrochemical devices. The electrolyte compositions of the present invention exhibit relatively high ionic conductivities with a negligible activation barrier for ion migration, i.e., the compositions exhibit barrierless ion conduction. In addition, the compositions exhibit good conductivities at very low temperatures, making them useful in a variety of low temperature applications. In one embodiment, the present invention further relates to free-standing films comprising the co-crystals of the present invention, and methods for preparing such films.