Thermosetting Gel Polymer Electrolyte for Stable Lithium-Ion Batteries
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing liquid electrolytes in lithium secondary batteries suffer from low stability, leading to increased battery thickness, potential explosion due to gas generation, and uneven electrode reaction, necessitating the development of a gel polymer electrolyte with improved wetting and performance.
Innovation Solution
A thermosetting electrolyte composition for lithium secondary batteries, comprising LiPF6, a second lithium salt, a non-aqueous organic solvent, and a polymer or oligomer with a thermopolymerizable unit, which undergoes thermal polymerization to form a gel polymer electrolyte without a polymerization initiator, preventing pre-gelation and enhancing adhesion and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid electrolyte is used in lithium secondary battery, then the battery can operate, but stability is low and gas is generated causing battery swelling or explosion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the electrolyte from liquid phase to gel phase by incorporating polymer components (polymerizable monomer or oligomer with polymerizable group) that undergo gelation upon contact with lithium salt or through thermal/UV-induced polymerization. This phase transition eliminates gas generation while maintaining ionic conductivity, directly resolving the stability issue of liquid electrolytes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite gel polymer electrolyte system combining organic solvent, polymerizable monomer/oligomer, and lithium salt. This composite structure integrates the ionic conductivity of liquid electrolytes with the structural stability of polymers, preventing gas generation and battery swelling while maintaining operational performance.
2Ease of manufacture
If polymerization initiator is added to prepare gel polymer electrolyte, then gelation can occur, but pre-gelation occurs at room temperature causing reduced wetting and increased interfacial resistance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for preliminary polymerization initiator addition by designing a system where gelation occurs automatically upon contact with lithium salt or through controlled thermal/UV treatment after battery assembly. This prevents pre-gelation at room temperature, ensuring proper wetting and low interfacial resistance while still achieving gelation for structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the electrolyte composition to self-gelate through its own components (polymerizable monomer/oligomer reacting with lithium salt or through thermal/UV activation) without requiring external polymerization initiators. This self-service mechanism prevents pre-gelation issues while ensuring complete gelation for battery stability.
3Reliability
If gel polymer electrolyte is used instead of liquid electrolyte, then stability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases due to gelation process control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies manufacturing by enabling the electrolyte composition to self-gelate upon contact with lithium salt or through simple thermal/UV treatment after battery assembly, eliminating the need for complex pre-gelation process control. This self-service mechanism maintains high stability while reducing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent controls gelation through simple parameter changes (temperature increase or UV exposure) after battery assembly rather than requiring precise control during assembly. This approach maintains the stability benefits of gel polymer electrolyte while significantly simplifying the manufacturing process by decoupling gelation from the assembly process.
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 provides improved impregnability, oxidation stability, and capacity characteristics for lithium secondary batteries by forming a gel polymer electrolyte that maintains lithium ion concentration and prevents side reactions, thereby enhancing high-temperature stability and cycle performance.
Implementation Method 1
a polymer or oligomer with a thermopolymerizable unit, which undergoes thermal polymerization to form a gel polymer electrolyte
Implementation Method 2
maintains lithium ion concentration
Implementation Method 3
a salt is dissolved in an organic solvent using a carbonate organic solvent as a main solvent
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a thermosetting electrolyte composition for a lithium secondary battery, a gel polymer electrolyte prepared therefrom, and a lithium secondary battery including the gel polymer electrolyte, and particularly, to a thermosetting electrolyte composition for a lithium secondary battery, which includes LiPF6 as a first lithium salt, a second lithium salt excluding the LiPF6, a non-aqueous organic solvent, and a polymer or oligomer containing a unit represented by Formula 1, a gel polymer electrolyte prepared therefrom, and a lithium secondary battery including the gel polymer electrolyte.