Sulfide Solid Electrolyte Processing to Prevent Particle Granulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for producing sulfide solid electrolytes often result in increased particle diameters and a spread of particle size distribution due to granulation during heating, which reduces production efficiency and requires additional processing steps.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the mixing of raw materials containing lithium, phosphorus, sulfur, and halogen atoms in a first solvent, followed by removal of the solvent to obtain an electrolyte precursor, contact with a second hydrocarbon solvent, and subsequent heating to produce a sulfide solid electrolyte without granulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If existing methods for producing sulfide solid electrolytes are used, then the electrolyte can be produced through heating, but particle diameters increase and particle size distribution spreads due to granulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by conducting the reaction in a liquid state before heating. The raw materials are mixed in a solvent to form a homogeneous liquid mixture, allowing the reaction to proceed in the liquid phase at lower temperatures. This prevents granulation during heating and maintains narrow particle size distribution, as the reaction products form uniformly dispersed particles rather than agglomerating during high-temperature processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the reaction system from solid-state to liquid-state by introducing a solvent. This parameter change enables the reaction to occur at lower temperatures in the liquid phase, preventing the granulation that would otherwise occur during high-temperature heating of solid materials. The solvent acts as a medium that controls particle formation and prevents aggregation.
2Reliability
If heating is applied to produce sulfide solid electrolyte, then the electrolyte crystallization is achieved, but production efficiency decreases due to granulation and particle growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes phase transitions by conducting the reaction in the liquid phase and then removing the solvent to obtain the solid electrolyte product. The reaction occurs in the liquid state where molecular mobility is high, enabling complete crystallization at lower temperatures. After reaction completion, solvent removal transitions the product to solid form, achieving both reliable crystallization and high production efficiency without granulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical heating process with a chemical reaction in liquid medium. Instead of relying on high-temperature heating to drive the reaction and achieve crystallization, the liquid-phase chemical reaction proceeds at lower temperatures with high efficiency. This substitution eliminates the mechanical granulation issue associated with high-temperature heating while maintaining reliable electrolyte formation.
3Manufacturing precision
If solvent removal is performed after liquid phase reaction, then the electrolyte precursor is obtained, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing the solvent from the liquid-phase reaction mixture to obtain the solid electrolyte product. The solvent is extracted or evaporated, leaving behind the reaction products as a solid powder with controlled particle size. This extraction step is necessary to separate the product from the reaction medium and achieve the desired solid electrolyte form with narrow particle size distribution.
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 method efficiently produces sulfide solid electrolytes with high ionic conductivity while suppressing the increase of particle diameters and the spread of particle size distribution, thereby improving production efficiency and battery performance.
Implementation Method 1
mixing, in a first solvent, a raw material-containing substance that contains a plurality of raw materials each containing at least one atom selected from a lithium atom, a phosphorus atom, a sulfur atom, and a halogen atom to obtain a solution containing an electrolyte precursor
Implementation Method 2
bringing the electrolyte precursor into contact with a second solvent, and subsequently heating the mixture
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a method for efficiently producing a sulfide solid electrolyte which has high ionic conductivity and in which an increase of particle diameters and a spread of particle size distribution are suppressed, the method including mixing, in a first solvent, a raw material-containing substance that contains a plurality of raw materials each containing at least one atom selected from a lithium atom, a phosphorus atom, a sulfur atom, and a halogen atom to obtain a solution containing an electrolyte precursor, removing the solvent from the solution to obtain the electrolyte precursor, bringing the electrolyte precursor into contact with a second solvent, and subsequently heating the mixture, wherein the second solvent differs from the first solvent and is a hydrocarbon solvent.