Stretchable Polymer Electrolyte for Wearable Battery Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery technologies, including separators and electrodes, are inflexible and unable to stretch or contract, making them unsuitable for wearable electronic devices that require flexibility and stretchability.
Innovation Solution
Development of a stretchable polymer electrolyte and electrode using a copolymer with non-crosslinked and crosslinked repeating units, combined with a lithium salt and organic liquid, which allows for both elongation and recovery, enabling the creation of flexible electrochemical devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional separators and electrodes are used in batteries, then electrochemical performance is maintained, but flexibility and stretchability are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining polymer matrices with elastomeric components to create stretchable electrodes and separators. The composite structure integrates rigid electrochemically active phases with flexible polymer binders, enabling both mechanical stretchability and electrochemical functionality. This resolves the contradiction by allowing the material to simultaneously exhibit flexibility from the elastomeric phase and structural integrity from the composite architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies mechanical parameters of electrode and separator materials by adjusting polymer composition, crosslinking density, and filler content. By changing the glass transition temperature, elastic modulus, and elongation at break through compositional adjustments, the materials achieve enhanced flexibility while maintaining sufficient mechanical strength for battery operation.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional metal current collectors are used, then electrical conductivity is ensured, but elongation capability is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional metal current collectors with polymer-based current collector structures. These polymer alternatives provide comparable electrical conductivity through conductive fillers or intrinsically conductive polymers while offering superior elongation capability. The substitution eliminates the mechanical brittleness of metals and enables the electrode to stretch and recover without compromising electrochemical stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs thin film structures made from flexible polymers as current collectors. These thin films can be stretched and deformed more easily than bulk metal collectors, providing the necessary elongation capability. The thin film architecture maintains electrical conductivity through optimized filler networks while allowing significant strain accommodation.
3Strength
If crosslinked polymer structures are used to improve mechanical strength, then structural integrity is enhanced, but stretchability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating regions of different crosslinking density within the polymer matrix. Highly crosslinked regions provide structural integrity and mechanical strength, while lightly crosslinked or uncrosslinked regions maintain chain mobility and enable stretching. This spatial variation in crosslinking quality allows the material to simultaneously exhibit both strength and stretchability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the polymer network into distinct domains with different mechanical properties. Hard segments provide structural support through dense crosslinking, while soft segments provide flexibility and stretchability through looser crosslinking or physical entanglements. This segmentation allows the material to deform under stress while maintaining overall structural integrity.
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 provides electrochemically stable, stretchable polymer electrolytes and electrodes with improved elongation at break and recovery, suitable for use in wearable electronic devices, enhancing their mechanical properties and ion conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
the stretchable copolymer includes a non-crosslinked first repeating unit, a non-crosslinked second repeating unit, and a crosslinked third repeating unit
Implementation Method 2
a stretchable polymer electrolyte includes a stretchable copolymer; a lithium salt; and an organic liquid
Data Source
AI summary
A stretchable polymer electrolyte includes a stretchable copolymer; a lithium salt; and an organic liquid, wherein the stretchable copolymer includes a non-crosslinked first repeating unit, a non-crosslinked second repeating unit, and a crosslinked third repeating unit, the first repeating unit includes a first hard segment and a first soft segment, the second repeating unit includes a second hard segment and a second soft segment, and the third repeating unit includes a third hard segment and a third soft segment.