Supercapacitor With Crystalline Solid Electrolyte Lamellar Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Super-capacitors have limited energy density due to low dielectric constants in previous ionic conductors, which restricts their performance in energy storage and data storage applications, and the use of liquid electrolytes poses manufacturing and packaging challenges, especially in memory applications.

Innovation Solution

A super-capacitor design utilizing a crystalline solid electrolyte with a lamellar structure and high dielectric constant, made from materials like A2B2O5, which allows for increased ionic conductivity and oxygen ion mobility, combined with carbon or noble metal electrodes, and optional mechanical or thermal actuation to control ion migration, enhancing charge storage and data retention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If liquid electrolyte is used in super-capacitor, then ionic conductivity is improved, but manufacturing and packaging becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveionic conductivityVSAvoidmanufacturing and packaging
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the electrolyte from liquid to solid, specifically using a crystalline solid electrolyte with lamellar structure. This phase transition resolves the contradiction by maintaining ionic conductivity through the solid state while eliminating the manufacturing and packaging difficulties associated with liquid electrolytes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a composite structure combining crystalline solid electrolyte material with specific lamellar architecture. The composite nature of the material - integrating ordered crystalline regions with ion-conductive pathways - enables both high ionic conductivity and ease of manufacture in solid form.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional ionic conductors are used, then manufacturing is easier, but dielectric constant remains low

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemanufacturingVSAvoiddielectric constant
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the structural parameter of the electrolyte from conventional isotropic structures to a crystalline lamellar structure. This structural transformation increases the dielectric constant by creating layered regions that enhance polarization and charge storage capacity, while the crystalline nature maintains manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If solid electrolyte is used, then packaging is simplified, but resistive losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovepackagingVSAvoidresistive losses
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite crystalline solid electrolyte with lamellar structure that combines regions of high ionic conductivity with structurally stable regions. This composite architecture reduces resistive losses by providing optimized ion transport pathways while maintaining the packaging advantages of solid electrolytes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution significantly increases the dielectric constant and energy density of super-capacitors, enabling more efficient energy storage and data storage, while addressing manufacturing challenges by using a solid electrolyte and reducing resistive losses, with improved safety features like thermal blocking to prevent thermal runaway.

Implementation Method 1

there appears a migration of ions from the material of the electrolyte (for example ions referenced AN- as an example on the figure 1) to the electrode of opposite polarity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon migration: Electrophoresis

Implementation Method 2

a material E, solid and crystalline, with a lamellar structure and a very high dielectric constant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDielectric polarization: Dielectric

Implementation Method 3

the charge separation occurs over a very small thickness (a few Angstroms) in a so-called Helmoltz double layer at the interface with the electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectrostatic charge separation: Electrostatics

Implementation Method 4

ions can be absorbed by the electrodes. It is then superimposed in addition a Faradic current giving rise to an additional pseudo-capacitance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 5

the Faradic current is rather linked to a physical phenomenon (adsorption, intercalation) with charge transfer to the electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIntercalation: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3520110B1Device comprising a supercapacitor and manufacturing method of the device
Publication Date: 2022.04.13 PARIS SCI & LETTRES
  • EP3520110B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP3520110B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3520110B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a supercapacitor comprising: an electrolyte having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a first electrode (E1) in contact with the first end of the electrolyte; and a second electrode (E2) in contact with the second end of the electrolyte. In particular, the electrolyte is made from an ionically conductive and electronically insulating solid material (D).