Sulfide Solid Electrolyte Production via Microwave Heating

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for producing sulfide solid electrolytes require high-temperature firing, leading to granulation and increased costs due to equipment corrosion and energy consumption, which complicates mass production and increases the cost of sulfide solid electrolytes.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of microwave irradiation on a mixture of lithium, phosphorus, sulfur, and halogen atoms in an organic solvent to reduce heating temperatures and prevent granulation, allowing for efficient production of sulfide solid electrolytes with maintained particle size.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If high-temperature firing is used to produce sulfide solid electrolyte, then the electrolyte can be formed, but granulation occurs and particle size increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiring temperatureVSAvoidparticle size

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional thermal field-based firing with microwave irradiation, which provides volumetric heating through dielectric loss. This substitution allows for more uniform and rapid heating that prevents granulation while achieving the required phase transformation, directly resolving the contradiction between forming the electrolyte and maintaining particle size

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the phase transition properties of the sulfide solid electrolyte materials under microwave irradiation. By controlling the microwave heating process, the material undergoes necessary phase transitions to form the electrolyte structure without requiring prolonged high-temperature exposure that would cause granulation, thus resolving the contradiction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #36Phase transitions

2Temperature

If high-temperature firing is used to produce sulfide solid electrolyte, then the electrolyte can be formed, but equipment corrosion increases and production cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiring temperatureVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional thermal field-based firing with microwave irradiation, which provides volumetric heating through dielectric loss. This substitution allows for more uniform and rapid heating that prevents granulation while achieving the required phase transformation, directly resolving the contradiction between forming the electrolyte and maintaining particle size

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the heating method parameter from conventional thermal conduction to microwave dielectric heating. This parameter change enables faster heating rates and more uniform temperature distribution, reducing the total energy input required and minimizing equipment corrosion, thus resolving the contradiction between electrolyte formation and production cost

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Temperature

If high-temperature firing is used to produce sulfide solid electrolyte, then the electrolyte can be formed, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefiring temperatureVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional thermal field-based firing with microwave irradiation, which provides volumetric heating through dielectric loss. This substitution allows for more uniform and rapid heating that prevents granulation while achieving the required phase transformation, directly resolving the contradiction between forming the electrolyte and maintaining particle size

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements continuous microwave irradiation that provides sustained volumetric heating throughout the material. This continuous action ensures complete and uniform phase transformation throughout the entire sample volume, achieving electrolyte formation with lower total energy consumption compared to conventional incremental heating methods

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 reduces energy consumption and equipment costs, enhances production efficiency, and eliminates the need for post-heating pulverization, enabling the production of sulfide solid electrolytes with improved crystallinity and ionic conductivity.

Implementation Method 1

performing microwave irradiation on the mixture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMicrowave irradiation: Microwave Radiation

Implementation Method 2

performing microwave irradiation on the mixture

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDielectric heating: Dielectric Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20250100880A1Method for producing sulfide solid electrolyte

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 IDEMITSU KOSAN CO LTD

AI summary

A method for producing a sulfide solid electrolyte, which includes obtaining a mixture by mixing a raw material inclusion containing a lithium atom, a phosphorus atom, a sulfur atom, and a halogen atom in an organic solvent; and performing microwave irradiation on the mixture, is provided, and thereby a sulfide solid electrolyte can be efficiently produced while maintaining a particle diameter by reducing a heating temperature and suppressing granulation due to heating by employing a liquid phase method.