Lithium Ion Conductive Solid Electrolyte Porous Hollow Microspheres

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solid electrolytes for lithium batteries face challenges with low lithium ion conductivity, mechanical strength, and interface resistance, limiting their practical application and battery performance.

Innovation Solution

Sintering lithium ion conductive glass or crystalline ceramics into a thin, high-area greensheet form, followed by sintering and electrode attachment, to create a solid electrolyte with enhanced ion conductivity and mechanical properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the thickness of polymer electrolyte is reduced to improve lithium ion conductivity, then lithium ion conductivity is improved, but mechanical strength is reduced causing the electrolyte to break or form holes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelithium ion conductivityVSAvoidmechanical strength
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite structure consisting of a polymer electrolyte layer and a porous hollow microsphere layer. The hollow microspheres serve as spacers to maintain the thickness and mechanical strength of the electrolyte while allowing lithium ion conduction through the porous structure, thus resolving the contradiction between thinning for conductivity and maintaining strength.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If inorganic oxide such as alumina is added to increase mechanical strength, then mechanical strength is improved, but lithium ion conductivity is significantly reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidlithium ion conductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs porous hollow microspheres instead of dense inorganic oxide particles. The porous structure of the microspheres allows lithium ions to pass through while the hollow structure provides mechanical support and spacing, avoiding the conductivity reduction caused by dense inorganic oxide additions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

3Reliability

If all solid components are used to improve safety by eliminating liquid electrolyte, then safety is improved, but interface resistance increases making high output difficult to achieve

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidoutput
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The porous hollow microsphere structure provides pathways for lithium ion transport, reducing interface resistance between solid components. The porous structure facilitates ion movement while maintaining the all-solid configuration for safety, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and power output.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

4Duration of action of stationary object

If repeated charging and discharging is performed to test battery durability, then long-term stability is improved, but the electrolyte reacts with inorganic oxide causing deterioration in charging-discharging characteristics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelong-term stabilityVSAvoidcharging-discharging characteristic
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The porous hollow microspheres are chemically inert and structurally stable, preventing reactions with the electrolyte during repeated charging-discharging cycles. The porous structure maintains ion conductivity while the hollow spheres provide long-term structural stability, avoiding the deterioration caused by inorganic oxide reactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

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 solid electrolyte achieves higher battery output, capacity, and stable charging-discharging characteristics, with improved ion conductivity and mechanical strength, facilitating long-term use and industrial-scale production.

Implementation Method 1

sintering powder of lithium ion conductive glass or crystalline (ceramics or glass-ceramics) having a specific composition

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSintering: Sintering

Data Source

PatentUS9580320B2Lithium ion conductive solid electrolyte and method for manufacturing the same
Publication Date: 2017.02.28 OHARA INC

AI summary

A solid electrolyte suitable for use in all solid type lithium ion secondary battery is made by sintering a form, particularly a greensheet, comprising at least lithium ion conductive inorganic substance powder. The solid electrolyte has porosity of 20 vol % or over.