Composite Solid Electrolyte Membrane for Lithium Dendrite Inhibition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lithium dendrite growth in all-solid-state batteries can lead to short-circuits, as the solid electrolyte membrane is damaged by the growth of lithium dendrites, especially when using polymeric materials, and inorganic electrolytes with pores allow dendrite growth through their interstitial volumes.

Innovation Solution

A solid electrolyte membrane is developed with a polymeric electrolyte material, a dendrite growth-inhibiting metal salt or metal ion, and filler particles, where the inhibiting material has lower reactivity than lithium and the filler particles guide the dendrite growth, ensuring the inhibiting material is positioned to react with the dendrite, thereby delaying or inhibiting its growth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a polymeric material is used as a solid electrolyte, then the battery structure is simplified and manufacturing is easier, but the solid electrolyte membrane is damaged by lithium dendrite growth causing short-circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite solid electrolyte membrane consisting of a polymeric electrolyte matrix combined with inorganic filler particles (such as Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, or ZrO2). This composite structure maintains the manufacturing ease of polymeric materials while the inorganic fillers provide mechanical strength to resist lithium dendrite penetration, thereby preventing short-circuits and improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If an inorganic solid electrolyte is used, then safety is improved and leakage is prevented, but pores among particles allow lithium dendrite growth through interstitial volumes

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidharmful factors

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent strategically incorporates inorganic filler particles with controlled porosity into the polymeric electrolyte matrix. The inorganic particles provide mechanical barriers against dendrite growth, while the controlled porous structure maintains ion conductivity. The composite structure prevents complete densification, allowing ion transport while the polymeric matrix fills and seals the interstitial spaces between particles to block dendrite pathways.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The polymeric electrolyte matrix acts as an intermediary material between the inorganic filler particles. It fills the interstitial volumes and pores among the rigid inorganic particles, creating a continuous phase that blocks lithium dendrite penetration paths while maintaining ionic conductivity for normal battery operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Quantity of substance

If lithium metal is used as a negative electrode, then energy density is improved, but lithium dendrite grows from the negative electrode surface causing short-circuits

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy densityVSAvoidharmful factors

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of lithium dendrite growth into a beneficial mechanism by incorporating reactive inorganic filler particles (such as Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, or ZrO2) into the solid electrolyte membrane. These particles react with the lithium dendrites upon contact, transforming the harmful dendrite structure into harmless reaction products, thereby preventing short-circuits while maintaining the high energy density benefits of lithium metal.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution effectively prevents electrical short-circuits by inhibiting lithium dendrite growth, ensuring the stability and safety of all-solid-state batteries using lithium metal as a negative electrode active material.

Implementation Method 1

the metal salt or metal ion has lower reactivity as compared to lithium metal... deposited lithium metal is ionized again through galvanic reaction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGalvanic reaction:

Implementation Method 2

a polymeric electrolyte material having ion conductivity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIon conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS12183896B2Solid electrolyte membrane and all-solid-state battery comprising same

Publication Date: 2024.12.31 LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a solid electrolyte membrane for an all-solid-state battery and a battery including the same. The battery may include lithium metal as a negative electrode active material. The solid-electrolyte membrane provides an effect of inhibiting growth of lithium dendrite by ionizing lithium deposited as metal. Therefore, when using lithium metal as a negative electrode in the all-solid-state battery including the solid electrolyte membrane, there is provided an effect of delaying and/or inhibiting growth of lithium dendrite. Thus, it is possible to effectively prevent an electrical short-circuit caused by growth of lithium dendrite.