Sulfide Solid Electrolyte Vitrification Using Crystal Nucleating Agents

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing method for manufacturing sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolyte materials is inefficient due to a lengthy vitrification process, which hampers industrial productivity.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a crystal nucleating agent into the raw material composition before the vitrification step, allowing for mechanical processing to reduce the time required for vitrification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If mechanical processing is performed to vitrify the raw material inorganic composition, then the sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolyte material is obtained, but the processing time is very long which deteriorates productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevitrification qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The raw material inorganic composition is prepared in advance with specific component ratios (Li2S-P2S5 system with additional sulfides) that pre-condition the material for faster vitrification during mechanical processing, reducing the actual processing time required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The composition parameters of the raw materials are optimized by controlling the ratio of lithium sulfide to phosphorus sulfide and adding specific additional sulfide components, which changes the vitrification characteristics to enable faster processing while maintaining product quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 significantly shortens the manufacturing time for sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolyte materials while maintaining or improving lithium ionic conductivity, electrochemical stability, and handling properties.

Implementation Method 1

a vitrification step of mechanically processing the raw material inorganic composition (A) to vitrify the raw material inorganic composition (A)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVitrification: Vitrification

Implementation Method 2

performing the vitrification step after containing a crystal nucleating agent in the raw material inorganic composition before the vitrification step

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNucleation: Nucleation

Data Source

PatentUS12183878B2Method of manufacturing sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolyte material
Publication Date: 2024.12.31 FURUKAWA COMPANY

AI summary

Provided is a method of manufacturing a sulfide-based inorganic solid electrolyte material including Li, P, and S as constituent elements, the method including: a preparation step of preparing a raw material inorganic composition (A) including at least lithium sulfide, phosphorus sulfide, and a crystal nucleating agent; and a vitrification step of mechanically processing the raw material inorganic composition (A) to vitrify the raw material inorganic composition (A).