Solid Electrolyte Manufacturing Using Water Solvent
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for manufacturing solid electrolytes, such as those used in secondary batteries, are inefficient and lack universal applicability due to high costs and environmental concerns associated with solvents like ethanol, and do not achieve uniform mixing of precursors, resulting in low-density and low-ion conductivity products.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of water as a solvent to dissolve precursors like Na3PO4, forming a slurry, drying to create granules, pressing to form a solid body, and sintering at high temperatures to produce a high-density solid electrolyte with uniform precursor mixing, such as Na3Zr2Si2PO12, which is more cost-effective and environmentally safer than ethanol-based methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If ethanol is used as a solvent in the manufacturing process, then the precursors can be dissolved and processed, but the manufacturing cost increases and environmental safety deteriorates due to vapor treatment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the solvent parameter from organic (ethanol) to inorganic (water), transforming the manufacturing process from requiring vapor treatment facilities to using environmentally safe water that eliminates harmful emissions while maintaining precursor dissolution capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive ethanol solvent with cheap water, eliminating the need for costly vapor treatment facilities and reducing manufacturing costs while achieving the same functional outcome of precursor dissolution
2Device complexity
If conventional mixing methods are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the precursor mixing uniformity deteriorates resulting in low-density and low-ion conductivity products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of precursors from solid powder to dissolved state in water, enabling uniform molecular-level mixing throughout the slurry while maintaining process simplicity, which subsequently produces high-density solid electrolytes with superior ion conductivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses water as an intermediary medium to dissolve precursors and enable uniform distribution, acting as a carrier that facilitates homogeneous mixing and subsequent formation of uniform granules with consistent precursor distribution
3Object-affected harmful factors
If water is used as a solvent, then manufacturing cost decreases and environmental safety improves, but the ability to dissolve certain precursors may be limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter of the slurry by selecting water-soluble precursors like Na3PO4, transforming the dissolution process to work effectively with water as the solvent, thereby achieving both environmental safety and manufacturing feasibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by selecting specific precursors with water-soluble characteristics (such as sodium phosphate) for the slurry formulation, ensuring that the particular components required for this application are compatible with water-based processing
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
This approach reduces manufacturing costs, ensures safety without the need for vapor treatment facilities, and achieves high-density, high-ion conductivity solid electrolytes with uniform precursor distribution, enhancing the performance and applicability of the solid electrolyte.
Implementation Method 1
dissolving a precursor in water to form a slurry
Implementation Method 2
drying the slurry to form granules
Implementation Method 3
sintering the pressed solid body to manufacture a solid electrolyte
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a solid electrolyte using water as a solvent. The method includes dissolving a precursor in water to form a slurry, drying the slurry to form granules, pressing the granules to form a pressed solid body, and sintering the pressed solid body to manufacture a solid electrolyte.