Solid Electrolyte Lithium Sulfur Battery Interdigitated Cathode
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-sulfur batteries face issues with short cycle life, low charging efficiency, high self-discharge rates, and safety concerns due to the dissolution of lithium polysulfide in liquid electrolytes, leading to parasitic reactions and fire hazards.
Innovation Solution
The use of solid electrolytes, such as polymer, glass, or ceramic materials, in lithium-sulfur batteries with interdigitated cathode stripes and a lithium anode, reduces sulfur migration and enhances safety by forming a lithium pore channel, improving energy density and cycle life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid electrolyte is used in lithium-sulfur batteries, then ionic conductivity is achieved, but dissolution of lithium polysulfide occurs leading to short cycle life and safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the electrolyte from liquid to solid, fundamentally altering the medium in which ionic conduction occurs. This parameter change eliminates polysulfide dissolution while maintaining lithium ion transport through the solid electrolyte membrane, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and harmful factors
Solution Approach 2:
The solid electrolyte acts as an intermediary barrier between the lithium anode and sulfur cathode, preventing direct contact and parasitic reactions between lithium polysulfides and the lithium anode. This intermediary layer allows beneficial ionic conduction while blocking harmful polysulfide migration
2Reliability
If liquid electrolyte is used, then battery operation is enabled, but fire hazards and safety concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
Changing the electrolyte from liquid to solid state fundamentally alters the safety profile of the battery. The solid electrolyte eliminates flammability concerns inherent in liquid electrolytes while maintaining the necessary ionic conductivity for battery operation, directly addressing the safety-hazard contradiction
3Reliability
If solid electrolyte is used, then safety and cycle life are improved, but ionic conductivity may be reduced compared to liquid electrolytes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite solid electrolyte materials that combine multiple components to achieve both high ionic conductivity and structural stability. This composite approach allows the solid electrolyte to match or exceed the ionic conductivity of liquid electrolytes while maintaining the safety and cycle life benefits of solid-state operation
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 implementation of solid electrolytes in lithium-sulfur batteries increases energy density, safety, and cycle life while preventing the formation of insoluble polysulfide species, offering comparable ionic conductivity to organic liquid electrolytes.
Implementation Method 1
High performance all solid lithium sulfur battery with fast lithium ion conduction
Implementation Method 2
The use of solid electrolytes, such as polymer, glass, or ceramic materials, in lithium-sulfur batteries with interdigitated cathode stripes and a lithium anode, reduces sulfur migration
Data Source
AI summary
A battery has a lithium anode, a separator adjacent the anode, and a cathode adjacent the separator opposite the anode, the cathode comprising interdigitated stripes of a first and second material, wherein the first material contains sulfur and the second material comprises a solid electrolyte.