Sulfide Solid Electrolyte Processing to Suppress Heat Granulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing sulfide solid electrolytes face challenges in maintaining particle size and achieving high quality due to granulation caused by high heating temperatures, leading to increased costs and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method involving microwave irradiation of a mixture containing lithium, phosphorus, and halogen atoms in an organic solvent, with controlled heating and cooling steps, is employed to produce sulfide solid electrolytes efficiently while suppressing granulation and maintaining particle size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional heating methods are used to produce sulfide solid electrolyte, then the production process can be completed, but granulation occurs causing particle size increase and requiring post-heating pulverization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional thermal heating with microwave irradiation to heat the slurry. This substitution prevents granulation that occurs with traditional heating methods, eliminating the need for post-heating pulverization while maintaining production efficiency and particle size control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of water in the slurry under microwave irradiation. The rapid heating and vaporization of water creates a froth that prevents granulation, allowing the sulfide solid electrolyte particles to remain dispersed without requiring subsequent pulverization.
2Temperature
If conventional heating methods are used, then heating can be performed, but energy consumption and equipment costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional thermal heating equipment with a microwave irradiation system. Microwave heating directly energizes the water molecules in the slurry, achieving rapid and uniform heating with significantly lower energy consumption compared to conventional furnaces or heaters.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic microwave irradiation combined with intermittent stirring to achieve uniform heating throughout the slurry. This periodic action prevents localized overheating and reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining effective heating capability.
3Reliability
If high heating temperature is applied, then the sulfide solid electrolyte can be formed, but granulation occurs increasing production costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses microwave irradiation instead of high-temperature thermal heating to form the sulfide solid electrolyte. This method achieves reliable electrolyte formation at lower effective temperatures, preventing granulation and eliminating costly post-processing pulverization steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary medium in the slurry formulation. The water content (5-50 wt%) acts as a heat transfer medium and frothing agent during microwave irradiation, enabling reliable electrolyte formation without direct high-temperature exposure that would cause granulation.
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 the production of high-quality sulfide solid electrolytes with reduced energy consumption and equipment costs, as well as eliminating the need for post-heating pulverization, thereby enhancing efficiency and reducing overall production costs.
Implementation Method 1
irradiating the mixture with a microwave of 0.5 to 700 W/g to heat the mixture to 50 to 360°C
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
Provided is a method for producing a sulfide solid electrolyte, the method including a first step of mixing a raw material-containing substance that contains a lithium atom, a phosphorus atom, a sulfur atom, and a halogen atom in an organic solvent to prepare a mixture, a second step of irradiating the mixture with a microwave of 0.5 to 700 W/g to heat the mixture to 50 to 360°C, and a third step of cooling the mixture to 20 to 70°C, the second and third steps being repeated 2 to 50 times. In the method for producing a sulfide solid electrolyte, a liquid phase method is adopted with a lowered heating temperature, and a sulfide solid electrolyte that has a particle size maintained by suppressing granulation caused by heating and further has a high quality can be efficiently produced.