Solid-State Electrolyte Coating for Low-Impedance Lithium Metal Contact
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lithium ion batteries face challenges in achieving high-energy-density configurations with improved performance and reduced size, particularly in achieving conformal low-impedance interfacial contact between solid-state electrolytes and lithium metal.
Innovation Solution
A lithium ion cell design featuring a lithium metal anode with a current collector and a lithium metal layer, a cathode with a lithium intercalation material, and a solid-state electrolyte (SSE) with a lithiophilic layer on its surface. The lithiophilic layer, composed of a metal oxide, promotes wettability with lithium metal, enhancing interfacial contact and reducing impedance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a solid-state electrolyte is used to achieve high energy density, then the battery energy density is improved, but the interfacial contact between the electrolyte and lithium metal deteriorates due to lithiophobic surface properties
Solution Approach 1:
A lithiophilic coating layer comprising metal oxide nanoparticles (such as ZnO, In2O3, SnO2, Al2O3, or Bi2O3) is applied to the surface of the solid-state electrolyte. This coating acts as an intermediary between the lithiophobic SSE and lithium metal, improving wettability and interfacial contact. The coating layer has a thickness of 20-100 nanometers and creates a lithiophilic surface that promotes conformal contact with plated lithium metal during charging cycles.
2Reliability
If pressure is increased to improve interfacial contact between components, then the contact quality is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase due to the need for high-pressure assembly processes
Solution Approach 1:
The lithiophilic coating is applied to the solid-state electrolyte surface before assembly with the lithium metal anode. This preliminary action modifies the surface properties of the SSE to be lithiophilic, ensuring good interfacial contact is achieved during normal assembly processes without requiring excessive pressure. The coating is applied via deposition of a non-aqueous precursor solution containing metallic nitrate, followed by decomposition to form the metal oxide coating.
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 lithiophilic layer improves wettability and interfacial contact between the lithium metal and the SSE, leading to reduced lithium inventory loss, improved cycle life, enhanced cell performance, and extended usable lifespan of the lithium ion cell.
Implementation Method 1
The lithiophilic layer promotes wettability with lithium metal, enhancing interfacial contact and reducing impedance
Implementation Method 2
depositing the precursor solution is performed by a spin coating process
Implementation Method 3
decomposing the precursor solution and form a lithiophilic layer on the surface of the SSE. The precursor solution includes a metallic nitrate
Data Source
AI summary
Lithium ion cells and methods for producing such cells are provided. The lithium ion cells include a lithium metal anode that includes a current collector and a lithium metal layer, a cathode having a lithium intercalation material, and a solid-state electrolyte (SSE) having a lithiophilic layer on a surface of the SSE. The lithiophilic includes a metal oxide. In one example, the lithiophilic layer is formed by depositing a non-aqueous precursor solution on the surface of a solid-state electrolyte (SSE), wherein the precursor solution includes a metallic nitrate, and decomposing the precursor solution to form the lithiophilic layer.