Thin-Film Solid-State Battery Electrolyte to Suppress Lithium Dendrites
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium-ion batteries face limitations in energy density, cycle life, and safety due to issues like lithium dendrite growth, electrolyte degradation, and the need for cooling systems, which restrict their performance and cost-effectiveness for high-capacity energy storage applications.
Innovation Solution
A thin-film solid-state electrolyte battery structure is developed, featuring a first electrode, a second electrode with lithium ions, and an electrolyte precursor layer that forms a lithium conducting electrolyte during voltage application, preventing lithium dendrite growth and enhancing cycle life and energy density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If lithium-ion batteries use bulk layers for cathode and electrolyte, then capacity is improved, but volumetric and gravimetric energy density are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces bulk cathode and electrolyte layers with thin-film structures. The cathode is formed as a thin film on a flexible substrate, and the electrolyte is replaced with a solid-state thin film layer, dramatically reducing the volume occupied by these components while maintaining functional capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from three-dimensional bulk layers to two-dimensional thin-film structures. By depositing cathode materials and electrolyte layers as thin films on substrates, the design moves from volumetric storage to surface-area-based storage, significantly improving volumetric energy density
2Reliability
If lithium-ion batteries use bulk electrolyte, then ion transport is achieved, but heat generation from resistivity limits operating temperature to 50°C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the electrolyte from liquid to solid, and reduces its thickness from bulk to thin-film scale. This parameter change reduces resistive heating while maintaining ion transport capability through the solid-state thin film structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the liquid electrolyte system with a solid-state thin film electrolyte system. This substitution eliminates the thermal management issues associated with liquid electrolytes while maintaining ionic conductivity through the solid-state material
3Reliability
If lithium-ion batteries use liquid electrolyte, then ion conduction is achieved, but lithium dendritic filament growth occurs leading to shorting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates an inert environment by using a solid-state thin film electrolyte that is chemically stable and impermeable to lithium ions in a way that prevents dendrite formation. The solid-state structure acts as a barrier that eliminates the conditions necessary for dendritic growth while maintaining ionic conductivity
Solution Approach 2:
The solid-state thin film electrolyte acts as an intermediary layer between the cathode and anode that mediates ion transport while preventing direct contact and dendrite formation. The thin-film structure provides a controlled pathway for ion conduction that eliminates the harmful effects of liquid electrolyte
4Quantity of substance
If lithium-ion batteries use bulk cathode layer, then charge storage capacity is improved, but volume and mass increase limiting energy density
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the bulk cathode with a thin-film cathode structure deposited on a flexible substrate. This thin-film approach maintains charge storage capacity through high-surface-area materials while dramatically reducing the mass and volume of the cathode component
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 achieves high cycle life and energy density by preventing lithium dendrite growth and electrolyte degradation, reducing the need for cooling systems, and lowering manufacturing costs, thereby improving the performance and cost-effectiveness of lithium-ion batteries.
Implementation Method 1
Upon initial application of a voltage across the first electrode structure and the second electrode structure to form the lithium-metal battery cell, lithium ions flow from the second electrode structure to the first electrode structure through the electrolyte precursor layer, a lithium conducting electrolyte is formed from the electrolyte precursor layer during lithium ion flow, a layer of lithium metal is deposited on the first electrode structure
Implementation Method 2
a first metal layer formed from a precursor layer upon charge and diffused into a cathode during discharge
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention are in the field of materials, apparatus, process, methods, and designs for manufacture of a thin film energy storage devices with a capacity greater then 1 mA-hr-cm−2 including thin film Lithium metal and Li+ ion batteries and capacitors having high energy density and high cycle life due to the incorporation of at least one vacuum thin film with respect to protection and electrical conductivity of the electrodes, and at least one vacuum thin film electrolyte for electrical insulation of the electrodes and ion conduction after assembly for low self discharge and high cycle life battery cells.