Solid-State Nickel Metal Hydride Battery with Perovskite Electrolyte

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current metal hydride batteries are too heavy for PHEV applications, and lithium-ion battery technology is not mature enough due to high costs, performance issues, and lack of abuse tolerance, necessitating a low-cost, high-power, high-energy density battery solution for hybrid electric vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A solid-state nickel metal hydride battery with a multilayered cell structure comprising a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a perovskite-type oxide material, which is electrically insulating and proton-conductive, along with thin-film conductive terminal layers for weight reduction and improved performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If current metal hydride batteries are used, then energy storage capacity is achieved, but weight becomes too heavy for PHEV applications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy storage capacityVSAvoidbattery weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state of the electrolyte from liquid to solid (perovskite-type oxide), and transforms the battery architecture from conventional to bipolar configuration. These parameter changes enable higher energy density while reducing overall battery weight, achieving 300 Wh/kg gravimetric energy density suitable for PHEV applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite material structures including perovskite-type oxide electrolytes combined with nickel metal hydride electrodes, and thin-film conductive terminal layers. These composite materials provide both high energy storage capacity and reduced weight, resolving the contradiction between energy density and weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If lithium-ion battery technology is used, then high energy density is achieved, but cost and manufacturing complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy densityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes expensive lithium-ion materials with cheaper nickel metal hydride materials and perovskite-type oxide electrolytes. This material substitution dramatically reduces raw material costs and manufacturing complexity while maintaining high energy density, making the battery cost-effective for HEV/PHEV applications

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the battery chemistry from lithium-ion to solid-state nickel metal hydride, and adopts bipolar configuration. These parameter changes enable the use of abundant, low-cost materials while achieving competitive energy density, resolving the cost-energy density trade-off

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If high-power battery design is implemented, then power density increases, but abuse tolerance and reliability decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower densityVSAvoidabuse tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the electrolyte from liquid to solid perovskite-type oxide, which provides inherent thermal stability and mechanical strength. This parameter change enables the battery to achieve high power density (5,000-10,000 W/kg) while simultaneously improving abuse tolerance against thermal runaway, short circuits, and mechanical abuse

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material systems with perovskite-type oxide electrolytes and nickel metal hydride electrodes, which provide both high ionic conductivity for power delivery and structural integrity for safety. The thin-film terminal layers further enhance mechanical strength, resolving the power-density versus reliability contradiction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite 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 solution achieves a high power density of 5,000 to 10,000 Watt per Kg and a gravimetric energy density of 300 Wh/kg, with significantly reduced material costs, making it suitable for hybrid electric vehicles while addressing weight and durability concerns.

Implementation Method 1

a solid state layer of perovskite-type oxide material disposed between the layer of positive electrode material and the layer of negative electrode material, where the layer of perovskite-type oxide material is electrically insulating and capable of readily conducting or transporting protons from the layer of positive electrode material to the layer of negative electrode material while the battery is charging and from the layer of negative electrode material to the layer of positive electrode material while the battery is discharging

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectProton conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

a solid state layer of negative electrode material capable of adsorbing and desorbing protons during charge and discharge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

a solid state layer of positive electrode material capable of desorbing and adsorbing protons during charge and discharge

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP2526587B1Low-cost, high power, high energy density, solid-state, bipolar nickel metal hydride batteries
Publication Date: 2017.01.11 OVONIC BATTERY COMPANY INC
  • EP2526587B1 patent drawing
  • EP2526587B1 patent drawing
  • EP2526587B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A solid state battery including at least one multilayered battery cell comprising: 1) a layer of negative electrode material; 2) a layer of positive electrode material; and 3) a layer of perovskite-type oxide material disposed between the layer of positive electrode material and the layer of negative electrode material, where said layer of perovskite-type oxide material is electrically insulating and capable of readily conducting or transporting protons.