Sulfur-Based Electrode Material Using High-Boiling Acryl Monomers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lithium-ion secondary battery technologies face challenges with high production costs due to the expense of polyacrylonitrile, poor cycle characteristics from materials like silicon and industrial rubber, and limited capacity improvement from carbon materials.
Innovation Solution
A sulfur-based active material is produced by baking a mixture of an acryl-based monomer with a boiling point of 230° C. or higher and sulfur, which improves cycle characteristics and reduces production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If polyacrylonitrile is used as a sulfur-based active material, then charge and discharge capacity is improved, but production cost increases due to the expense of polyacrylonitrile and quality control requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive polyacrylonitrile with inexpensive acryl-based monomers that can be converted into sulfur-based active materials. This substitution directly addresses the cost issue while maintaining the functional performance through the chemical transformation process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the acryl-based monomer by controlling its boiling point (230°C or higher) to enable effective sulfur incorporation during the heating process. This parameter selection ensures both cost-effectiveness and functional performance
2Ease of manufacture
If industrial rubber is used as a sulfur-based active material, then production cost is reduced, but cycle characteristics deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent selects acryl-based monomers with specific boiling points (230°C or higher) to optimize the sulfur incorporation process. This parameter control ensures that the monomer remains stable during storage and handling but reacts effectively with sulfur during battery formation, producing materials with excellent cycle characteristics
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by chemically combining acryl-based monomers with sulfur to form sulfur-based active materials. This composite approach leverages the cost advantage of the monomer while the sulfur incorporation provides the electrochemical performance and cycle stability
3Quantity of substance
If silicon or tin are used as negative electrode active materials, then charge and discharge capacity is increased, but cycle characteristics worsen due to large volume changes during lithium ion absorption and release
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs acryl-based monomers that form flexible polymer structures capable of accommodating volume changes during lithium ion absorption and release. This flexibility prevents structural degradation that would otherwise occur with rigid materials like silicon or tin
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system combining the high capacity characteristics of silicon or tin with the structural stability provided by the acryl-based monomer framework. This composite approach maintains high charge and discharge capacity while improving cycle characteristics
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
The sulfur-based active material enhances cycle characteristics and charge/discharge capacity of lithium-ion secondary batteries, offering improved performance and cost-effectiveness.
Implementation Method 1
a sulfur-based active material obtained by baking a mixture comprising an acryl-based monomer and sulfur
Implementation Method 2
materials that can absorb and release more lithium ions, such as silicon (Si), tin (Sn), and the like in order to increase battery capacity
Implementation Method 3
undergo a large change in volume by absorption and release of lithium ions
Data Source
AI summary
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel sulfur-based active material that can improve in cycle characteristics, an electrode comprising the sulfur-based active material, that is, a positive electrode or a negative electrode, and a lithium-ion secondary battery comprising the electrode. Provided is a sulfur-based active material obtained by baking a mixture comprising an acryl-based monomer and sulfur, wherein a boiling point of the acryl-based monomer is 230° C. or higher.