Sulfide Oxide Electrolytes for Moisture-Stable Solid-State Batteries
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Sulfide electrolytes suffer from poor air and moisture stability, limiting their potential for wide-scale application in solid-state batteries, despite efforts to improve stability through atomic layer deposition and elemental substitution, which increase costs due to the use of expensive dopants.
Innovation Solution
Development of sulfide oxide electrolytes with the general formula AaMbScXd, which exhibit good ionic conductivity and demonstrate air and moisture stability without the need for dopants, allowing for efficient synthesis under moderate conditions suitable for scaling up production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If sulfide electrolytes are used to achieve high ionic conductivity, then energy storage performance is improved, but air and moisture stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful reactivity of sulfide electrolytes with moisture into a beneficial feature by deliberate oxidation to form sulfide oxide electrolytes. The oxidation process transforms the vulnerable S2- ions into more stable SO3 2- or SO4 2- groups, creating a material that inherently resists moisture while maintaining ionic conductivity through the preserved sulfide framework structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the oxidation state parameter of the sulfide electrolyte by controlled oxidation, transforming it from a reduced sulfide state to a partially oxidized sulfide oxide state. This parameter change fundamentally alters the material's stability characteristics while preserving its ionic conduction pathways, achieving both high conductivity and moisture stability.
2Reliability
If expensive dopants are introduced to improve air and moisture stability, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for expensive dopant elements by using a straightforward oxidation process. Instead of adding foreign elements to achieve stability, the method removes the vulnerability through oxidation, using only oxygen and sulfur from accessible sources, thereby dramatically reducing material costs while achieving the desired stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs inexpensive, readily available materials for the oxidation process, replacing expensive dopants with common elements like oxygen and sulfur. The synthesis uses low-cost precursors and moderate processing conditions, making the overall manufacturing process economically viable for large-scale production.
3Reliability
If complex synthesis processes are used to achieve stability, then reliability is improved, but productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary oxidation during the synthesis process itself, rather than requiring separate stabilization steps afterward. The oxidation occurs concurrently with or immediately following the formation of the electrolyte structure, ensuring stability is built-in from the start and eliminating the need for complex post-processing or protective atmosphere handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous useful action by conducting the oxidation process under moderate, sustained conditions that allow complete transformation without interruption. The method uses continuous heating or chemical treatment that ensures thorough oxidation throughout the material, achieving uniform stability without requiring multiple batch processing steps or complex process control.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein, the disclosure, in one aspect, relates to sulfide electrolytes and synthesis of sulfide oxide electrolytes. The electrolytes have the general formula AaMbScXd, have good ionic conductivity, and can demonstrate good air and moisture stability. The electrolytes can be a component of different types of batteries. The process of synthesizing the electrolytes is efficient and can be done under moderate conditions, which are useful characteristics of synthesis for scaling-up production.