Solid Polymer Electrolyte with Crystalline Ion Hopping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solid polymer electrolytes face limitations in achieving high ionic conductivity at room temperature due to their reliance on segmental motion, which requires amorphous phases and low glass transition temperatures, making them unsuitable for practical applications.
Innovation Solution
A solid, ionically conductive polymer material with crystallinity greater than 30% and a glassy state at temperatures below its melting point, incorporating charge transfer complexes and specific monomers that enable cationic and anionic diffusing ions to be mobile in the glassy state, achieving ionic conductivity exceeding 1.0×10−5 S/cm at room temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If polymer electrolytes rely on segmental motion for ionic conductivity, then ionic conductivity can be achieved, but the material requires amorphous phases and low glass transition temperatures which limits practical applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of ionic conduction mechanism from segmental motion-dependent to vacancy-hopping mechanism. This is achieved by incorporating ceramic fillers (such as Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, or ZrO2) into the polymer matrix, which create vacancy sites that enable ion transport through hopping rather than requiring polymer chain segmental motion. This allows the electrolyte to maintain high ionic conductivity across a wide temperature range including sub-ambient temperatures where conventional polymer electrolytes fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite solid polymer electrolyte by combining organic polymer matrix with inorganic ceramic filler particles. The ceramic fillers serve multiple functions: they create vacancy sites for ion hopping, increase crystallinity for structural stability, and provide thermal stability. The composite structure synergistically combines the flexibility and ion-solvating capability of polymers with the structural stability and vacancy-creating capability of ceramics, resolving the contradiction between achieving ionic conductivity and maintaining broad temperature applicability.
2Reliability
If ceramics are used as solid electrolytes to achieve high ionic conductivity, then conductivity is improved, but the material only achieves high conductivity above 140°C and suffers from brittleness and manufacturing challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite solid polymer electrolyte by combining organic polymer matrix with inorganic ceramic filler particles. The ceramic fillers serve multiple functions: they create vacancy sites for ion hopping, increase crystallinity for structural stability, and provide thermal stability. The composite structure synergistically combines the flexibility and ion-solvating capability of polymers with the structural stability and vacancy-creating capability of ceramics, resolving the contradiction between achieving ionic conductivity and maintaining broad temperature applicability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of ionic conduction mechanism from segmental motion-dependent to vacancy-hopping mechanism. This is achieved by incorporating ceramic fillers (such as Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, or ZrO2) into the polymer matrix, which create vacancy sites that enable ion transport through hopping rather than requiring polymer chain segmental motion. This allows the electrolyte to maintain high ionic conductivity across a wide temperature range including sub-ambient temperatures where conventional polymer electrolytes fail.
3Reliability
If plasticizers are added to PEO to enhance ambient conductivity, then conductivity is substantially enhanced, but mechanical integrity deteriorates and corrosive reactivity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of ionic conduction mechanism from segmental motion-dependent to vacancy-hopping mechanism. This is achieved by incorporating ceramic fillers (such as Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, or ZrO2) into the polymer matrix, which create vacancy sites that enable ion transport through hopping rather than requiring polymer chain segmental motion. This allows the electrolyte to maintain high ionic conductivity across a wide temperature range including sub-ambient temperatures where conventional polymer electrolytes fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite solid polymer electrolyte by combining organic polymer matrix with inorganic ceramic filler particles. The ceramic fillers serve multiple functions: they create vacancy sites for ion hopping, increase crystallinity for structural stability, and provide thermal stability. The composite structure synergistically combines the flexibility and ion-solvating capability of polymers with the structural stability and vacancy-creating capability of ceramics, resolving the contradiction between achieving ionic conductivity and maintaining broad temperature applicability.
4Reliability
If gel electrolytes incorporate large amounts of liquid solvent to achieve high ambient conductivities, then conductivity is improved, but similar disadvantages of plasticized polymer electrolytes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of ionic conduction mechanism from segmental motion-dependent to vacancy-hopping mechanism. This is achieved by incorporating ceramic fillers (such as Al2O3, SiO2, TiO2, or ZrO2) into the polymer matrix, which create vacancy sites that enable ion transport through hopping rather than requiring polymer chain segmental motion. This allows the electrolyte to maintain high ionic conductivity across a wide temperature range including sub-ambient temperatures where conventional polymer electrolytes fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite solid polymer electrolyte by combining organic polymer matrix with inorganic ceramic filler particles. The ceramic fillers serve multiple functions: they create vacancy sites for ion hopping, increase crystallinity for structural stability, and provide thermal stability. The composite structure synergistically combines the flexibility and ion-solvating capability of polymers with the structural stability and vacancy-creating capability of ceramics, resolving the contradiction between achieving ionic conductivity and maintaining broad temperature applicability.
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 allows for ionic conduction in both crystalline and amorphous phases, enabling the creation of composite anodes and cathodes with increased capacity and cycle life, using abundant and low-cost materials, and facilitating new battery manufacturing methods through extrusion and other plastic processing techniques.
Implementation Method 1
a new ionic conduction mechanism which enables ionic conduction in both the crystalline phase and the amorphous glassy state of a polymer
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of charge transfer complexes and a plurality of monomers, wherein each charge transfer complex is positioned on a monomer
Implementation Method 3
a glassy state which exists at temperatures below the material melting temperature
Data Source
AI summary
A solid, ionically conductive, polymer material with a crystallinity greater than 30%; a glassy state; and both at least one cationic and anionic diffusing ion, wherein each diffusing ion is mobile in the glassy state.