Solid Oxide Battery Thin Film Architecture Miniaturization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional thin film, solid-state batteries face limitations in miniaturization and integration with electronic devices due to dimensional and processing constraints, which restrict further performance improvements and integration capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A solid oxide battery with a thin film architecture, utilizing a proton conducting solid electrolyte and a noble metal electrode to split water molecules into hydrogen, which is stored and used to generate electricity, allowing for a smaller form factor and easier integration with electronic devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional thin film lithium-ion battery structure is used with multiple layers (separator, cathode, anode, solid electrolyte, electronics components), then the battery can provide sufficient energy storage capacity, but the battery size is limited to tens of microns and cannot be further miniaturized
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the battery into only three essential functional segments: first electrode, solid electrolyte, and second electrode. This segmentation eliminates unnecessary components (separator, additional electronics components) while maintaining energy storage functionality, enabling miniaturization to dimensions not achievable with conventional multi-layer structures
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and removes non-essential components from the conventional battery structure, specifically eliminating the separator and additional electronics components. This extraction reduces the minimum achievable battery size from tens of microns to smaller dimensions while preserving the core energy storage function through the essential triad of electrode-electrolyte-electrode
2Power
If conventional thin film lithium-ion batteries include separator and additional electronics components to augment performance, then the battery can achieve higher power applications, but the device complexity and manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the separator and additional electronics components from the conventional battery structure. This simplification reduces manufacturing complexity and the number of processing steps while maintaining power density through the optimized three-component structure of first electrode, solid electrolyte, and second electrode
Solution Approach 2:
The solid electrolyte in the invention serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the ionic conductor, provides structural support, and eliminates the need for a separate separator component. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity while maintaining the power density required for high-power applications
3Reliability
If conventional thin film lithium-ion batteries require high temperature annealing processes during manufacture, then the battery can achieve proper material formation, but the manufacturing cost and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the manufacturing parameters by eliminating the requirement for high temperature annealing processes. The solid oxide battery structure and materials enable proper material formation and functionality at lower temperatures, reducing manufacturing cost and process complexity while maintaining reliability
4Strength
If conventional thin film lithium-ion batteries are designed as standalone components with interconnects, then the battery can provide sufficient structural integrity, but the integration with electronic devices like integrated circuits is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the battery into thin-film layers (first electrode, solid electrolyte, second electrode) that can be directly integrated with electronic devices. This segmented structure eliminates the need for bulky interconnects and enables direct integration with integrated circuits and other electronic components while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses thin-film architecture for all battery components, creating a flexible, integrable structure that can be directly coupled with electronic devices. The thin-film solid electrolyte and electrodes replace rigid standalone components with flexible, integrable layers that maintain structural integrity while enabling direct integration with integrated circuits
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 solid oxide battery achieves energy and power densities comparable to and exceeding conventional thin film lithium-ion batteries, with a significantly smaller size and simpler manufacturing process, enabling easier integration with electronic devices like integrated circuits.
Implementation Method 1
The solid electrolyte is formed from a proton conducting material (also referred to herein as 'ionic conducting material') to transport and store hydrogen
Implementation Method 2
The second electrode is formed from a noble metal that induces formation of oxygen vacancies at the interface between the second electrode and the solid electrolyte. The oxygen vacancies are used to split water molecules during charging of the solid oxide battery, which results in the generation of hydrogen
Implementation Method 3
The solid electrolyte can have a thickness of about 4 nm to about 100 nm and can be comprised of gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3-δ) where the oxygen nonstoichiometry δ is about 0.01 to 0.5
Data Source
AI summary
A solid oxide battery includes a solid electrolyte disposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode and the second electrode are coupled to an external source or load to charge or discharge the solid oxide battery. The solid electrolyte is formed from a proton conducting material to transport and store hydrogen, which is the source of chemical energy. The second electrode is formed from a noble metal configured to induce formation of oxygen vacancies at the interface between the second electrode and the solid electrolyte. The oxygen vacancies are used to split water molecules during charging of the solid oxide battery, which results in the generation of hydrogen. Under bias, the hydrogen ions are transported into the solid electrolyte and stored. During discharge, a reverse process occurs where hydrogen is used to generate water and electricity.