Two-Additive Li-Ion Electrolyte for Low-Gas Cell Formation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rechargeable lithium-ion battery systems face challenges in achieving efficient formation processes with high throughput manufacturing, particularly in reducing gas generation and optimizing electrode interactions, which affects their performance and lifetime, especially in applications requiring fast charging and discharging like electric vehicles and grid storage.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of two-additive electrolyte systems, such as vinylene carbonate (VC) combined with 2-furanone (FN) or fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) with FN, paired with lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) positive electrodes and graphite negative electrodes, reduces gas generation during the formation process and enhances battery performance and lifetime, while minimizing the need for more expensive additives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional electrolyte systems with three or four additives are used, then battery lifetime and performance are improved, but manufacturing cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates unnecessary electrolyte additives from the system. By identifying that only two specific additives (vinylene carbonate and fluoroethylene carbonate) are needed to achieve optimal performance, the invention removes redundant components while maintaining battery lifetime and performance, thus reducing complexity without sacrificing reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameters of the electrolyte additives. By precisely controlling the amounts of vinylene carbonate and fluoroethylene carbonate within specific ranges, the invention achieves maximum performance with minimal components, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity through parameter optimization rather than component proliferation
2Speed
If fast charging and discharging capabilities are enhanced for electric vehicle applications, then system performance is improved, but gas generation during formation process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by using the optimized two-additive electrolyte system to prevent gas generation before it occurs during fast charging operations. The specific combination of vinylene carbonate and fluoroethylene carbonate creates protective layers on electrodes during formation, which suppress subsequent gas evolution even under fast charging conditions, thus enabling high-speed performance without the harmful gas generation effect
3Duration of action of stationary object
If more electrolyte additives are used to improve battery performance, then lifetime is extended, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential electrolyte additives needed for achieving extended battery lifetime. By identifying and using merely two specific additives (vinylene carbonate and fluoroethylene carbonate) at optimized concentrations, the invention eliminates the need for three or four additives while maintaining or improving lifetime performance, thus reducing the quantity of substances required
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs cost-effective electrolyte additives that provide maximum performance benefit at minimal concentrations. By using small amounts of vinylene carbonate and fluoroethylene carbonate rather than larger quantities of multiple additives, the invention achieves extended battery lifetime with reduced material costs and simpler manufacturing
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
These two-additive systems significantly suppress gas formation during the formation process, improve capacity retention, and maintain energy efficiency, making them suitable for high-performance energy storage applications with reduced manufacturing complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
The formation process can result in the creation of a solid-electrolyte-interface (SEI) layer on the anode, which serves as a passivation layer essential for moderating the charging process under normal use
Implementation Method 2
The nonaqueous electrolyte comprises: lithium ions; a first nonaqueous solvent comprising a carbonate solvent; a second nonaqueous solvent comprising methyl acetate; and an additive mixture of a first operative additive of either vinylene carbonate or fluoroethylene carbonate
Data Source
AI summary
Improved battery systems have been developed for lithium-ion based batteries. The improved battery systems consist of two-additive mixtures in an electrolyte solvent. Such battery systems are prepared by assembling a positive electrode and a negative electrode in the sealed cell, removing residual water from the sealed cell, filling the sealed cell with a nonaqueous electrolyte under an inert atmosphere, vacuum-sealing the sealed cell, carrying out a formation process comprising charging and discharging the sealed cell until the sealed cell achieves an initial capacity. The nonaqueous electrolyte includes lithium ions, a first nonaqueous solvent comprising a carbonate solvent, a second nonaquaeous solvent comprising methyl acetate, and an additive mixture of a first operative additive of either vinylene carbonate or fluoroethylene carbonate and a second operative additive of 2-furanone. Gas formation is suppressed in the battery system during the formation process.