Solid Polymer Electrolyte Bipolar Battery for High-Voltage Isolation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Bipolar batteries face challenges in isolating liquid electrolytes to prevent short circuits and have limited performance due to high internal impedance and low ionic conductivity, which are not effectively addressed by existing sealing mechanisms or low conductivity electrolytes.

Innovation Solution

The use of solid ionically conductive polymer materials with a glassy state at room temperature, comprising both cationic and anionic diffusing ions, and a crystallinity greater than 30%, which are integrated into bipolar batteries as electrolyte layers between electrochemically active materials, allowing for efficient ionic conductivity and high voltage operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If liquid electrolyte is used in bipolar batteries, then ionic conductivity is improved, but sealing complexity and short circuit risk increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveionic conductivityVSAvoidsealing mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the electrolyte from liquid to solid polymer form, fundamentally altering the parameter of electrolyte state. This eliminates the need for sealing mechanisms while maintaining ionic conductivity through the solid polymer electrolyte's inherent properties

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical sealing system required for liquid electrolytes with a solid polymer electrolyte that inherently contains the electrolyte function without requiring mechanical seals, thus substituting a mechanical system with a material-based solution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If low conductivity solid electrolytes are used, then sealing complexity is reduced, but internal impedance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing mechanism complexityVSAvoidinternal impedance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the conductivity parameter of the solid electrolyte by using highly conductive solid polymer electrolytes with specific ionic conductivity values (e.g., >10^-3 S/cm), transforming the material properties to achieve both solid-state simplicity and low impedance performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite solid polymer electrolyte materials combining polymer matrices with conductive additives or specific chemical compositions to achieve high ionic conductivity while maintaining the solid-state advantage of simplified structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Device complexity

If solid ionically conductive polymer material is used, then sealing requirements are eliminated, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealing mechanism requirementsVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the thermal and mechanical parameters of solid polymer electrolytes (such as melting point, glass transition temperature, and viscosity) to enable processing through conventional polymer manufacturing techniques like extrusion and molding, making manufacturing feasible despite the material's complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Quantity of substance

If bipolar battery design is used, then energy density is improved, but electrolyte isolation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy densityVSAvoidelectrolyte isolation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrolyte state parameter to solid polymer form, which inherently provides both high energy density compatibility and automatic isolation between cells in bipolar configurations, eliminating the isolation difficulty while preserving energy density advantages

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 solution enables bipolar batteries to operate at high voltages with improved energy density, reduced internal impedance, and enhanced safety, providing flexibility in voltage and energy storage while avoiding the need for complex sealing mechanisms.

Implementation Method 1

the solid ionically conductive polymer material has a glassy state at room temperature, and comprises both at least one cationic and anionic diffusing ion, wherein at least one diffusing ion is mobile in the glassy state

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectIonic conduction: Conduction (electrical)